Brother and Sister

Author: A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories

  • Age6–10
  • Reading time12 min
  • LevelIntermediate

Introduction

This tale comes from the Brothers Grimm, and it is one of the gentlest stories about sibling love in the whole collection. We have retold it as a fable, the way a village storyteller would: plain words, short speeches, one turning point per scene, and a lesson at the end. In Chinese tradition there is an old saying, “Brothers and sisters are like hands and feet” — nothing can break the bond between them. That is the heart of this story. The sister's golden belt and her cord of rushes are small signs of a big promise: “I will never leave you.” The three brooks are worth a pause too. The brother knows the water is cursed, yet he drinks. Why? It is a small parable about impulse and self-control, and a chance for children to think about waiting when they want something badly. The Grimm original is darker than the Disney versions you may know: the stepmother's cruelty and the queen's fate are harsh, and later editions softened the ending. We kept the full plot but told it in a gentle fable voice, so the darkness fades. As you read, count with your child all the things the sister does for the fawn. Which one touches you most? And if the brother had waited one more moment, how might the story have changed?

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Brother and Sister - The brother and sister run away from their cruel stepmother into the great forest, where the thirsty brother drinks from a cursed brook and turns into a fawn. - Scene Illustration 1
The brother and sister run away from their cruel stepmother into the great forest, where the thirsty brother drinks from a cursed brook and turns into a fawn.
Long ago, a brother and sister lost their mother, and their father married again. The new stepmother was a cruel witch. She beat the children every day, and kicked them whenever they came close. They had nothing to eat but the hard bread crusts other people threw away. Even the dog under the table got a good bone now and then, which was more than they ever got. The brother said, “If our mother could see this, her heart would break. Come, let us go out into the world.” So they set off across the fields and meadows and walked all day. When the rain fell, the sister said, “The sky is weeping with us.”
At evening they came to a great forest. Hungry and tired, they climbed a tall tree and slept in its branches. Next morning the sun shone brightly through the leaves. The brother said, “Sister, I am so thirsty. I think I can hear a brook nearby. Let me go and drink.”
But the wicked stepmother was a witch. She knew at once that the children had run away. Quietly, as only a witch can, she followed them into the forest and put a spell on every brook there.
They found the first brook, and the water ran over the pebbles with a gentle sound. The brother bent down to drink, but the sister heard the water whisper, “Who drinks of me becomes a tiger.” She cried out, “Dear brother, do not drink! You will turn into a wild beast and tear me to pieces.”
The brother was very thirsty, but he held back and said he would wait for the next brook. At the second brook, the sister heard the water whisper, “Who drinks of me becomes a wolf.” Again she stopped him. “Do not drink, dear brother, or you will become a wolf and eat me.” So the brother held back once more.
At the third brook, the sister heard the water whisper, “Who drinks of me becomes a fawn.” Before she could speak, the brother could bear his thirst no longer. He knelt at the water's edge and drank. The first drop touched his lips, and he turned into a fawn.
Brother and Sister - The sister and the fawn settle in a little cottage deep in the woods, where they live a quiet life together, caring for one another. - Scene Illustration 2
The sister and the fawn settle in a little cottage deep in the woods, where they live a quiet life together, caring for one another.
The sister wept over her poor brother, and the fawn wept too and pressed close to her. She dried her tears and said, “Dear fawn, do not be sad. I will never leave you.” She took off her golden belt and tied it round the fawn's neck. Then she wove a soft cord from rushes and led him deeper into the forest.
They walked for a long time, until they found a little empty cottage. The sister cleaned it and made a soft bed of leaves and moss for the fawn. Every morning she went out to gather roots, berries and nuts for herself, and fresh grass for the fawn. He ate happily from her hand and frisked around her.
At night, after her prayers, the sister laid her head on the fawn's back and slept in peace. She often thought how lovely this life would be if only her brother had his own shape again. So the two of them lived together, alone in the wilderness, for a long, long time.
Brother and Sister - The King hunts in the forest and the fawn longs to join in. A hunter follows him home, and the King discovers the lovely maiden. - Scene Illustration 3
The King hunts in the forest and the fawn longs to join in. A hunter follows him home, and the King discovers the lovely maiden.
One day the king of that country came to hunt in the forest. Horns blew, hounds barked, and the hunters shouted through the trees. The fawn heard the noise and longed to join in. “Let me go and see,” he said to his sister. “I cannot stay here.” She could not refuse him, so she agreed.
“You may go,” said the sister, “but come back at night. I shall lock the door. Knock and say, “Little sister, let me in.” Without those words, I will not open it.” The fawn bounded into the forest, glad and free. The king and his hunters saw the pretty animal and chased him, but they could never catch him. Just when they thought they had him, he leaped over the bushes and was gone. When darkness fell, the fawn came home. He knocked, called out the secret words, and the door opened. He slept soundly on his soft bed.
Next morning the horns blew again, and the fawn begged to go out. “Remember,” said the sister, “come back at night and say the same words.” That day the hunters closed in on him, and one of them wounded his foot. The fawn limped home, and a hunter followed him quietly. He saw the door open and shut, and heard the fawn cry, “Little sister, let me in.” The hunter remembered everything and told the king. “Tomorrow,” said the king, “we shall hunt again.”
The sister wept to see the fawn wounded. She washed the cut with clean water and laid cool leaves on it. “Lie down and rest, dear fawn,” she said. “You will be well soon.” The wound was light, and by morning the fawn felt no pain. When he heard the horns again, he could not stay still. “I must go! This time they will never catch me.”
The sister wept and held him back. “They will kill you, and I shall be left here alone, with no one to care for me.” The fawn answered, “But when I hear the horns, I feel I shall burst.” Seeing there was no help for it, the sister opened the door with tears in her eyes. The king saw the fawn from afar and told his hunters, “Follow him all day. Not one of you may hurt him.”
When the sun went down, the king said, “Now take me to that little cottage in the wood.” He knocked at the door and called, “Little sister, let me in!” The door opened, and the king walked in. There stood a girl lovelier than any he had ever seen. She cried out in surprise, for it was not the fawn at the door but a king with a golden crown. The king looked at her kindly, took her hand and said, “Will you come to my castle and be my dear queen?”
Brother and Sister - The sister becomes Queen. Jealous of her good fortune, the wicked stepmother kills her and puts her own one-eyed daughter on the throne in disguise. - Scene Illustration 4
The sister becomes Queen. Jealous of her good fortune, the wicked stepmother kills her and puts her own one-eyed daughter on the throne in disguise.
The girl blushed and said, “Yes, I will come, but the fawn must come too. I cannot leave him.” The king smiled. “As long as you live, he shall stay with you and want for nothing.” The fawn bounded after them, and the sister led him by the cord with her own hand. The king lifted the girl onto his horse and carried her to his castle, where a grand wedding was held.
So the sister became queen, and she and the fawn lived well in the castle. Everyone loved the fawn, and he gambolled about the garden all day. As for the wicked stepmother, she had always believed the girl was eaten by wild beasts and the brother shot by hunters.
But news of their happy life reached the stepmother, and jealousy burned in her heart like fire. Day and night she could not rest, thinking only of how to ruin them. Her own daughter was ugly and had only one eye. She complained, “I shall never have the chance to be a queen.” The old witch said, “Be patient. When the time comes, I shall take care of everything.”
In time the queen gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, on the very day the king was away hunting. The old witch changed her shape and came in like a serving maid. “Your bath is ready,” she said. “Wash and refresh yourself, and take new strength. Hurry, before the water grows cold.” Her daughter waited outside. Together they carried the sick queen into the bathroom, where a great fire burned. The smoke rose and filled the room, and the poor young queen was smothered.
When it was done, the old witch put a cap on her daughter and laid her in the queen's bed. She gave the girl the queen's face and form, but she could not give her the missing eye. So the girl lay on her side, hiding the blind side of her face. That evening the king came home, overjoyed to hear of his little son, and hurried to his wife's bedside. But the old witch called out, “Do not open the curtains! She must rest in quiet and darkness.” The king believed her and turned away. He never knew that a false queen lay in that bed.
Brother and Sister - The true Queen's spirit returns each night to care for her child and the fawn. The King learns the truth, the Queen comes back to life, and the brother becomes a boy again. - Scene Illustration 5
The true Queen's spirit returns each night to care for her child and the fawn. The King learns the truth, the Queen comes back to life, and the brother becomes a boy again.
At midnight, when the whole house was asleep, the nurse sat watching by the cradle. She saw the door open softly, and the true queen walked in. She lifted the child into her arms and fed him. Then she shook out the little pillow, laid him back and covered him. Nor did she forget the fawn. She went to the corner where he lay and stroked his back, and then she slipped away without a sound. In the morning the nurse asked the watchmen if anyone had come in the night, and they all said no.
Night after night it was the same. The queen never spoke a word, and the nurse dared not tell anyone what she saw. After some time, the queen seemed to find her voice. One night she said, “My child, my fawn — two more visits are left to me. After two more visits, all must come to an end.”
The nurse said nothing at the time, but when the queen was gone, she hurried to the king and told him everything. The king was shocked. “Merciful heaven, is this true? Tomorrow night I shall watch by the child myself.” So the next evening the king went into the nursery. At midnight the queen appeared and said, “My child, my fawn — one more visit is left to me. After this visit, all must come to an end.”
She tended the child and the fawn as always, and then she was gone. The king dared not speak to her. He watched again the next night and heard her say, “My child, my fawn — this is the last visit. After this, all must come to an end.” The king could hold back no longer. He rushed to her and cried, “You are none other than my own dear wife!” She answered, “Yes, I am your dear wife.” And in that moment, by heaven's grace, life came back into her, and she was well and strong. Then she told the king everything about the trap the witch and her daughter had set.
The king was furious. He brought the witch and her daughter to justice. The ugly daughter was sent away into the forest, and the old witch was burned. The moment her body turned to ashes, the spell left the fawn, and the brother became a boy again.
From that day on, the brother and sister loved each other and lived happily to the end of their days. And the lesson of this tale is simple: love between brother and sister is stronger than any magic, and those who harm others only bring harm upon themselves.

Vocabulary from "Brother and Sister"

12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.

crusts(crust)B2
/krʌsts/n.

The hard outer edges of bread.

面包皮，面包外层硬硬的皮。

They had nothing to eat but the hard bread crusts other people threw away.

除了人家扔掉的硬面包皮，他们什么也吃不着。

pebbles(pebble)B2
/ˈpeblz/n.

Small smooth stones found in a stream.

卵石，溪水里光滑的小石头。

They found the first brook, and the water ran over the pebbles with a gentle sound.

兄妹俩找到第一条溪，溪水在卵石上哗哗流过。

fawnB2
/fɔːn/n.

A young deer.

小鹿。

The first drop touched his lips, and he turned into a fawn.

第一滴溪水刚沾上嘴唇，他就变成了一只小鹿。

wove(weave)B2
/wəʊv/v.

Made thread or grass into cloth, rope or a pattern.

编织（wove 是 weave 的过去式）。

Then she wove a soft cord from rushes and led him deeper into the forest.

她又采来灯芯草编成一根软绳，牵着他往林子深处走去。

rushes(rush)C1
/ˈrʌʃɪz/n.

Tall grass-like plants that grow near water and are used for weaving.

灯芯草，长在水边、可用来编织的草。

Then she wove a soft cord from rushes and led him deeper into the forest.

她又采来灯芯草编成一根软绳，牵着他往林子深处走去。

frisked(frisk)C1
/frɪskt/v.

Jumped and played about in a lively way.

欢蹦乱跳，活泼地蹦跳玩耍。

He ate happily from her hand and frisked around her.

小鹿高高兴兴地从她手里吃草，围着她欢蹦乱跳。

gambolled(gambol)C1
/ˈɡæmbəld/v.

Ran and jumped about in a happy, playful way.

蹦蹦跳跳地玩耍。

Everyone loved the fawn, and he gambolled about the garden all day.

花园里人人疼爱小鹿，它整天欢蹦乱跳。

limped(limp)B2
/lɪmpt/v.

Walked unevenly because of a hurt foot.

一瘸一拐地走。

The fawn limped home, and a hunter followed him quietly.

小鹿一瘸一拐地走回家，猎人悄悄跟在他身后。

jealousyB2
/ˈdʒeləsi/n.

The unhappy feeling you get when someone else has what you want.

嫉妒，眼红。

But news of their happy life reached the stepmother, and jealousy burned in her heart like fire.

可继母听说了兄妹俩的好日子，心里烧起嫉妒的火。

smothered(smother)C1
/ˈsmʌðəd/v.

Killed or made unable to breathe, usually by smoke or lack of air.

（被烟）闷死，窒息而死。

The smoke rose and filled the room, and the poor young queen was smothered.

浓烟滚滚，可怜的王后就这样被熏死了。

wildernessB2
/ˈwɪldənəs/n.

A wild place where few people live.

荒野，人迹罕至的地方。

So the two of them lived together, alone in the wilderness, for a long, long time.

就这样，兄妹俩在荒野里相依为命，过了很久很久。

cradleB2
/ˈkreɪdl/n.

A small bed for a baby that can be rocked.

摇篮。

At midnight, when the whole house was asleep, the nurse sat watching by the cradle.

半夜里，众人睡熟了，守在摇篮边的乳母看见门轻轻开了。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Love between brothers and sisters is stronger than any magic; kindness is rewarded and cruelty punished, and those who plot against others are ruined by their own schemes.

Educational Value

Helps children feel the warmth of sibling love and loyalty, learn to master their impulses, and trust that kindness wins and cruelty is punished.

Tips for Parents

This tale includes murder and a burning, so focus on the theme of love and protection while reading and soften the darker details. Compare it with Hansel and Gretel and The Six Swans on this site, and ask your child why the sister tried again and again to stop her brother.

Talk About It

  1. The brother heard the water's warning and knew he would become a fawn, so why couldn't he hold back? If it were you, could you wait a little longer?
  2. The sister said, “I will never leave you,” and truly kept her word. What have you done that you promised and then really did, for a brother, sister, or close friend?
  3. Even after death, the queen's spirit came back every night to feed her child and stroke the fawn. What do you think kept her so close that not even death could stop her?
  4. The stepmother and her daughter were punished in the end. Where do you think they went wrong? If they had turned back, could the story have ended differently?
  5. The fawn kept begging to join the hunt, and the sister kept stopping him. Was the sister too careful, or the fawn too headstrong? What do you think?

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