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to Great Claus； requesting him to lend him a bushel measure。 〃How is
this？〃 thought Great Claus； 〃did I not kill him？ I must go and see for
myself。〃 So he went to Little Claus； and took the bushel measure
with him。 〃How did you get all this money？〃 asked Great Claus； staring
with wide open eyes at his neighbor's treasures。
〃You killed my grandmother instead of me；〃 said Little Claus；
〃so I have sold her for a bushel of money。〃
〃That is a good price at all events；〃 said Great Claus。 So he went
home； took a hatchet； and killed his old grandmother with one blow。
Then he placed her on a cart； and drove into the town to the
apothecary； and asked him if he would buy a dead body。
〃Whose is it； and where did you get it？〃 asked the apothecary。
〃It is my grandmother；〃 he replied； 〃I killed her with a blow；
that I might get a bushel of money for her。〃
〃Heaven preserve us！〃 cried the apothecary； 〃you are out of your
mind。 Don't say such things； or you will lose your head。〃 And then
he talked to him seriously about the wicked deed he had done； and told
him that such a wicked man would surely be punished。 Great Claus got
so frightened that he rushed out of the surgery； jumped into the cart；
whipped up his horses； and drove home quickly。 The apothecary and
all the people thought him mad； and let him drive where he liked。
〃You shall pay for this；〃 said Great Claus； as soon as he got into
the highroad； 〃that you shall； Little Claus。〃 So as soon as he reached
home he took the largest sack he could find and went over to Little
Claus。 〃You have played me another trick；〃 said he。 〃First； I killed
all my horses； and then my old grandmother； and it is all your
fault； but you shall not make a fool of me any more。〃 So he laid
hold of Little Claus round the body； and pushed him into the sack；
which he took on his shoulders； saying； 〃Now I'm going to drown you in
the river。
He had a long way to go before he reached the river； and Little
Claus was not a very light weight to carry。 The road led by the
church； and as they passed he could hear the organ playing and the
people singing beautifully。 Great Claus put down the sack close to the
church…door； and thought he might as well go in and hear a psalm
before he went any farther。 Little Claus could not possibly get out of
the sack； and all the people were in church； so in he went。
〃Oh dear； oh dear；〃 sighed Little Claus in the sack； as he
turned and twisted about； but he found he could not loosen the
string with which it was tied。 Presently an old cattle driver； with
snowy hair； passed by； carrying a large staff in his hand； with
which he drove a large herd of cows and oxen before him。 They stumbled
against the sack in which lay Little Claus； and turned it over。 〃Oh
dear；〃 sighed Little Claus； 〃I am very young； yet I am soon going to
heaven。〃
〃And I； poor fellow；〃 said the drover； 〃I who am so old already；
cannot get there。〃
〃Open the sack；〃 cried Little Claus； 〃creep into it instead of me；
and you will soon be there。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 replied the drover； opening the sack； from
which sprung Little Claus as quickly as possible。 〃Will you take
care of my cattle？〃 said the old man； as he crept into the bag。
〃Yes；〃 said Little Claus； and he tied up the sack； and then walked
off with all the cows and oxen。
When Great Claus came out of church； he took up the sack； and
placed it on his shoulders。 It appeared to have become lighter； for
the old drover was not half so heavy as Little Claus。
〃How light he seems now；〃 said he。 〃Ah； it is because I have
been to a church。〃 So he walked on to the river； which was deep and
broad； and threw the sack containing the old drover into the water；
believing it to be Little Claus。 〃There you may lie！〃 he exclaimed；
〃you will play me no more tricks now。〃 Then he turned to go home；
but when he came to a place where two roads crossed； there was
Little Claus driving the cattle。 〃How is this？〃 said Great Claus。 〃Did
I not drown you just now？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Little Claus； 〃you threw me into the river about
half an hour ago。〃
〃But wherever did you get all these fine beasts？〃 asked Great
Claus。
〃These beasts are sea…cattle；〃 replied Little Claus。 〃I'll tell
you the whole story； and thank you for drowning me； I am above you
now； I am really very rich。 I was frightened； to be sure； while I
lay tied up in the sack； and the wind whistled in my ears when you
threw me into the river from the bridge； and I sank to the bottom
immediately； but I did not hurt myself； for I fell upon beautifully
soft grass which grows down there； and in a moment； the sack opened；
and the sweetest little maiden came towards me。 She had snow…white
robes； and a wreath of green leaves on her wet hair。 She took me by
the hand； and said； 'So you are come； Little Claus； and here are
some cattle for you to begin with。 About a mile farther on the road；
there is another herd for you。' Then I saw that the river formed a
great highway for the people who live in the sea。 They were walking
and driving here and there from the sea to the land at the； spot where
the river terminates。 The bed of the river was covered with the
loveliest flowers and sweet fresh grass。 The fish swam past me as
rapidly as the birds do here in the air。 How handsome all the people
were； and what fine cattle were grazing on the hills and in the
valleys！〃
〃But why did you come up again；〃 said Great Claus； 〃if it was
all so beautiful down there？ I should not have done so？〃
〃Well；〃 said Little Claus； 〃it was good policy on my part； you
heard me say just now that I was told by the sea…maiden to go a mile
farther on the road； and I should find a whole herd of cattle。 By
the road she meant the river； for she could not travel any other
way； but I knew the winding of the river； and how it bends；
sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left； and it seemed a long
way； so I chose a shorter one； and； by coming up to the land； and then
driving across the fields back again to the river； I shall save half a
mile； and get all my cattle more quickly。〃
〃What a lucky fellow you are！〃 exclaimed Great Claus。 〃Do you
think I should get any sea…cattle if I went down to the bottom of
the river？〃
〃Yes； I think so；〃 said Little Claus； 〃but I cannot carry you
there in a sack； you are too heavy。 However if you will go there
first； and then creep into a sack； I will throw you in with the
greatest pleasure。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Great Claus； 〃but remember； if I do not get
any sea…cattle down there I shall come up again and give you a good
thrashing。〃
〃No； now； don't be too fierce about it！〃 said Little Claus； as
they walked on towards the river。 When they approached it； the cattle；
who were very thirsty； saw the stream； and ran down to drink。
〃See what a hurry they are in；〃 said Little Claus； 〃they are
longing to get down again；〃
〃Come； help me； make haste；〃 said Great Claus； 〃or you'll get
beaten。〃 So he crept into a large sack； which had been lying across
the back of one of the oxen。
〃Put in a stone；〃 said Great Claus； 〃or I may not sink。〃
〃Oh； there's not much fear of that；〃 he replied； still he put a
large stone into the bag； and then tied it tightly； and gave it a
push。
〃Plump！〃 In went Great Claus； and immediately sank to the bottom
of the river。
〃I'm afraid he will not find any cattle；〃 said Little Claus； and
then he drove his own beasts homewards。
THE END
。