A certain father had two sons, the elder of who was smart and sensible,and could do everything, but the younger was stupid and could neitherlearn nor understand anything, and when people saw him they said:'There's a fellow who will give his father some trouble!' When anythinghad to be done, it was always the elder who was forced to do it; butif his father bade him fetch anything when it was late, or in thenight-time, and the way led through the churchyard, or any other dismalplace, he answered: 'Oh, no father, I'll not go there, it makes meshudder!' for he was afraid. Or when stories were told by the fire atnight which made the flesh creep, the listeners sometimes said: 'Oh,it makes us shudder!' The younger sat in a corner and listened withthe rest of them, and could not imagine what they could mean. 'They arealways saying: "It makes me shudder, it makes me shudder!" It does notmake me shudder,' thought he. 'That, too, must be an art of which Iunderstand nothing!'

Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day: 'Hearken to me,you fellow in the corner there, you are growing tall and strong, and youtoo must learn something by which you can earn your bread. Look how yourbrother works, but you do not even earn your salt.' 'Well, father,' hereplied, 'I am quite willing to learn something--indeed, if it could butbe managed, I should like to learn how to shudder. I don't understandthat at all yet.' The elder brother smiled when he heard that, andthought to himself: 'Goodness, what a blockhead that brother of mine is!He will never be good for anything as long as he lives! He who wants tobe a sickle must bend himself betimes.'

The father sighed, and answered him: 'You shall soon learn what it is toshudder, but you will not earn your bread by that.'

Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit, and the fatherbewailed his trouble, and told him how his younger son was so backwardin every respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing. 'Just think,'said he, 'when I asked him how he was going to earn his bread, heactually wanted to learn to shudder.' 'If that be all,' replied thesexton, 'he can learn that with me. Send him to me, and I will soonpolish him.' The father was glad to do it, for he thought: 'It willtrain the boy a little.' The sexton therefore took him into his house,and he had to ring the church bell. After a day or two, the sexton awokehim at midnight, and bade him arise and go up into the church tower andring the bell. 'You shall soon learn what shuddering is,' thought he,and secretly went there before him; and when the boy was at the top ofthe tower and turned round, and was just going to take hold of the bellrope, he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the soundinghole. 'Who is there?' cried he, but the figure made no reply, and didnot move or stir. 'Give an answer,' cried the boy, 'or take yourselfoff, you have no business here at night.'

The sexton, however, remained standing motionless that the boy mightthink he was a ghost. The boy cried a second time: 'What do you wanthere?--speak if you are an honest fellow, or I will throw you down thesteps!' The sexton thought: 'He can't mean to be as bad as his words,'uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone. Then the boycalled to him for the third time, and as that was also to no purpose,he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs, so that it felldown the ten steps and remained lying there in a corner. Thereupon herang the bell, went home, and without saying a word went to bed, andfell asleep. The sexton's wife waited a long time for her husband, buthe did not come back. At length she became uneasy, and wakened the boy,and asked: 'Do you know where my husband is? He climbed up the towerbefore you did.' 'No, I don't know,' replied the boy, 'but someone wasstanding by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps, and as hewould neither gave an answer nor go away, I took him for a scoundrel,and threw him downstairs. Just go there and you will see if it was he.I should be sorry if it were.' The woman ran away and found her husband,who was lying moaning in the corner, and had broken his leg.

She carried him down, and then with loud screams she hastened to theboy's father, 'Your boy,' cried she, 'has been the cause of a greatmisfortune! He has thrown my husband down the steps so that he broke hisleg. Take the good-for-nothing fellow out of our house.' The father wasterrified, and ran thither and scolded the boy. 'What wicked tricksare these?' said he. 'The devil must have put them into your head.''Father,' he replied, 'do listen to me. I am quite innocent. He wasstanding there by night like one intent on doing evil. I did not knowwho it was, and I entreated him three times either to speak or to goaway.' 'Ah,' said the father, 'I have nothing but unhappiness with you.Go out of my sight. I will see you no more.'

'Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it is day. Then will Igo forth and learn how to shudder, and then I shall, at any rate,understand one art which will support me.' 'Learn what you will,' spokethe father, 'it is all the same to me. Here are fifty talers for you.Take these and go into the wide world, and tell no one from whence youcome, and who is your father, for I have reason to be ashamed of you.''Yes, father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more thanthat, I can easily keep it in mind.'

When the day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty talers into hispocket, and went forth on the great highway, and continually said tohimself: 'If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!' Then a manapproached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding withhimself, and when they had walked a little farther to where they couldsee the gallows, the man said to him: 'Look, there is the tree whereseven men have married the ropemaker's daughter, and are now learninghow to fly. Sit down beneath it, and wait till night comes, and you willsoon learn how to shudder.' 'If that is all that is wanted,' answeredthe youth, 'it is easily done; but if I learn how to shudder as fast asthat, you shall have my fifty talers. Just come back to me early in themorning.' Then the youth went to the gallows, sat down beneath it, andwaited till evening came. And as he was cold, he lighted himself a fire,but at midnight the wind blew so sharply that in spite of his fire, hecould not get warm. And as the wind knocked the hanged men against eachother, and they moved backwards and forwards, he thought to himself:'If you shiver below by the fire, how those up above must freeze andsuffer!' And as he felt pity for them, he raised the ladder, and climbedup, unbound one of them after the other, and brought down all seven.Then he stoked the fire, blew it, and set them all round it to warmthemselves. But they sat there and did not stir, and the fire caughttheir clothes. So he said: 'Take care, or I will hang you up again.' Thedead men, however, did not hear, but were quite silent, and let theirrags go on burning. At this he grew angry, and said: 'If you will nottake care, I cannot help you, I will not be burnt with you,' and he hungthem up again each in his turn. Then he sat down by his fire and fellasleep, and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to havethe fifty talers, and said: 'Well do you know how to shudder?' 'No,'answered he, 'how should I know? Those fellows up there did not opentheir mouths, and were so stupid that they let the few old rags whichthey had on their bodies get burnt.' Then the man saw that he would notget the fifty talers that day, and went away saying: 'Such a youth hasnever come my way before.'

The youth likewise went his way, and once more began to mutter tohimself: 'Ah, if I could but shudder! Ah, if I could but shudder!' Awaggoner who was striding behind him heard this and asked: 'Who areyou?' 'I don't know,' answered the youth. Then the waggoner asked: 'Fromwhence do you come?' 'I know not.' 'Who is your father?' 'That I maynot tell you.' 'What is it that you are always muttering between yourteeth?' 'Ah,' replied the youth, 'I do so wish I could shudder, butno one can teach me how.' 'Enough of your foolish chatter,' said thewaggoner. 'Come, go with me, I will see about a place for you.' Theyouth went with the waggoner, and in the evening they arrived at an innwhere they wished to pass the night. Then at the entrance of the parlourthe youth again said quite loudly: 'If I could but shudder! If I couldbut shudder!' The host who heard this, laughed and said: 'If that isyour desire, there ought to be a good opportunity for you here.' 'Ah,be silent,' said the hostess, 'so many prying persons have already losttheir lives, it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes asthese should never see the daylight again.'

But the youth said: 'However difficult it may be, I will learn it. Forthis purpose indeed have I journeyed forth.' He let the host haveno rest, until the latter told him, that not far from thence stood ahaunted castle where anyone could very easily learn what shuddering was,if he would but watch in it for three nights. The king had promised thathe who would venture should have his daughter to wife, and she was themost beautiful maiden the sun shone on. Likewise in the castle lay greattreasures, which were guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures wouldthen be freed, and would make a poor man rich enough. Already many menhad gone into the castle, but as yet none had come out again. Then theyouth went next morning to the king, and said: 'If it be allowed, I willwillingly watch three nights in the haunted castle.'

The king looked at him, and as the youth pleased him, he said: 'You mayask for three things to take into the castle with you, but they mustbe things without life.' Then he answered: 'Then I ask for a fire, aturning lathe, and a cutting-board with the knife.'

The king had these things carried into the castle for him during theday. When night was drawing near, the youth went up and made himselfa bright fire in one of the rooms, placed the cutting-board and knifebeside it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. 'Ah, if I couldbut shudder!' said he, 'but I shall not learn it here either.' Towardsmidnight he was about to poke his fire, and as he was blowing it,something cried suddenly from one corner: 'Au, miau! how cold we are!''You fools!' cried he, 'what are you crying about? If you are cold, comeand take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves.' And when he had saidthat, two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat downon each side of him, and looked savagely at him with their fieryeyes. After a short time, when they had warmed themselves, they said:'Comrade, shall we have a game of cards?' 'Why not?' he replied, 'butjust show me your paws.' Then they stretched out their claws. 'Oh,' saidhe, 'what long nails you have! Wait, I must first cut them for you.'Thereupon he seized them by the throats, put them on the cutting-boardand screwed their feet fast. 'I have looked at your fingers,' said he,'and my fancy for card-playing has gone,' and he struck them dead andthrew them out into the water. But when he had made away with these two,and was about to sit down again by his fire, out from every hole andcorner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot chains, and moreand more of them came until he could no longer move, and they yelledhorribly, and got on his fire, pulled it to pieces, and tried to putit out. He watched them for a while quietly, but at last when they weregoing too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried: 'Away with you,vermin,' and began to cut them down. Some of them ran away, the othershe killed, and threw out into the fish-pond. When he came back he fannedthe embers of his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus sat, hiseyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to sleep. Then helooked round and saw a great bed in the corner. 'That is the very thingfor me,' said he, and got into it. When he was just going to shut hiseyes, however, the bed began to move of its own accord, and went overthe whole of the castle. 'That's right,' said he, 'but go faster.' Thenthe bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it, up and down,over thresholds and stairs, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over upsidedown, and lay on him like a mountain. But he threw quilts and pillows upin the air, got out and said: 'Now anyone who likes, may drive,' andlay down by his fire, and slept till it was day. In the morning the kingcame, and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought the evilspirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said he: 'After all it is apity,--for so handsome a man.' The youth heard it, got up, and said: 'Ithas not come to that yet.' Then the king was astonished, but very glad,and asked how he had fared. 'Very well indeed,' answered he; 'onenight is past, the two others will pass likewise.' Then he went to theinnkeeper, who opened his eyes very wide, and said: 'I never expected tosee you alive again! Have you learnt how to shudder yet?' 'No,' said he,'it is all in vain. If someone would but tell me!'

The second night he again went up into the old castle, sat down by thefire, and once more began his old song: 'If I could but shudder!' Whenmidnight came, an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard; atfirst it was low, but it grew louder and louder. Then it was quiet fora while, and at length with a loud scream, half a man came down thechimney and fell before him. 'Hullo!' cried he, 'another half belongsto this. This is not enough!' Then the uproar began again, there was aroaring and howling, and the other half fell down likewise. 'Wait,' saidhe, 'I will just stoke up the fire a little for you.' When he had donethat and looked round again, the two pieces were joined together, and ahideous man was sitting in his place. 'That is no part of our bargain,'said the youth, 'the bench is mine.' The man wanted to push him away;the youth, however, would not allow that, but thrust him off with allhis strength, and seated himself again in his own place. Then still moremen fell down, one after the other; they brought nine dead men's legsand two skulls, and set them up and played at nine-pins with them. Theyouth also wanted to play and said: 'Listen you, can I join you?' 'Yes,if you have any money.' 'Money enough,' replied he, 'but your balls arenot quite round.' Then he took the skulls and put them in the lathe andturned them till they were round. 'There, now they will roll better!'said he. 'Hurrah! now we'll have fun!' He played with them and lost someof his money, but when it struck twelve, everything vanished from hissight. He lay down and quietly fell asleep. Next morning the king cameto inquire after him. 'How has it fared with you this time?' asked he.'I have been playing at nine-pins,' he answered, 'and have lost a coupleof farthings.' 'Have you not shuddered then?' 'What?' said he, 'I havehad a wonderful time! If I did but know what it was to shudder!'

The third night he sat down again on his bench and said quite sadly:'If I could but shudder.' When it grew late, six tall men came in andbrought a coffin. Then he said: 'Ha, ha, that is certainly my littlecousin, who died only a few days ago,' and he beckoned with his finger,and cried: 'Come, little cousin, come.' They placed the coffin on theground, but he went to it and took the lid off, and a dead man laytherein. He felt his face, but it was cold as ice. 'Wait,' said he, 'Iwill warm you a little,' and went to the fire and warmed his hand andlaid it on the dead man's face, but he remained cold. Then he took himout, and sat down by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed hisarms that the blood might circulate again. As this also did no good, hethought to himself: 'When two people lie in bed together, they warm eachother,' and carried him to the bed, covered him over and lay down byhim. After a short time the dead man became warm too, and began to move.Then said the youth, 'See, little cousin, have I not warmed you?' Thedead man, however, got up and cried: 'Now will I strangle you.'

'What!' said he, 'is that the way you thank me? You shall at once gointo your coffin again,' and he took him up, threw him into it, and shutthe lid. Then came the six men and carried him away again. 'I cannotmanage to shudder,' said he. 'I shall never learn it here as long as Ilive.'

Then a man entered who was taller than all others, and looked terrible.He was old, however, and had a long white beard. 'You wretch,' cried he,'you shall soon learn what it is to shudder, for you shall die.' 'Not sofast,' replied the youth. 'If I am to die, I shall have to have a sayin it.' 'I will soon seize you,' said the fiend. 'Softly, softly, do nottalk so big. I am as strong as you are, and perhaps even stronger.''We shall see,' said the old man. 'If you are stronger, I will let yougo--come, we will try.' Then he led him by dark passages to a smith'sforge, took an axe, and with one blow struck an anvil into the ground.'I can do better than that,' said the youth, and went to the otheranvil. The old man placed himself near and wanted to look on, and hiswhite beard hung down. Then the youth seized the axe, split the anvilwith one blow, and in it caught the old man's beard. 'Now I have you,'said the youth. 'Now it is your turn to die.' Then he seized an iron barand beat the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop, when hewould give him great riches. The youth drew out the axe and let him go.The old man led him back into the castle, and in a cellar showed himthree chests full of gold. 'Of these,' said he, 'one part is for thepoor, the other for the king, the third yours.' In the meantime itstruck twelve, and the spirit disappeared, so that the youth stood indarkness. 'I shall still be able to find my way out,' said he, and feltabout, found the way into the room, and slept there by his fire.Next morning the king came and said: 'Now you must have learnt whatshuddering is?' 'No,' he answered; 'what can it be? My dead cousin washere, and a bearded man came and showed me a great deal of money downbelow, but no one told me what it was to shudder.' 'Then,' said theking, 'you have saved the castle, and shall marry my daughter.' 'Thatis all very well,' said he, 'but still I do not know what it is toshudder!'

Then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated; but howsoevermuch the young king loved his wife, and however happy he was, he stillsaid always: 'If I could but shudder--if I could but shudder.' And thisat last angered her. Her waiting-maid said: 'I will find a cure for him;he shall soon learn what it is to shudder.' She went out to the streamwhich flowed through the garden, and had a whole bucketful of gudgeonsbrought to her. At night when the young king was sleeping, his wife wasto draw the clothes off him and empty the bucket full of cold waterwith the gudgeons in it over him, so that the little fishes wouldsprawl about him. Then he woke up and cried: 'Oh, what makes me shudderso?--what makes me shudder so, dear wife? Ah! now I know what it is toshudder!'