Donkey Cabbages

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

Age7–11
Reading time12 min
LevelAdvanced

Introduction

Retelling a tale of the Brothers Grimm in the style of a Chinese fable is not a matter of new words; it is a matter of a new way of telling. In the original 'Donkey Cabbages,' wonder follows wonder — a wishing-cloak, a bird's heart that mints a gold coin every morning, cabbages that turn a man into a donkey and back again. It is a story told for the sake of marvels. A fable, however, wants every marvel to carry a lesson, so this retelling has been shaped around a famous Chinese saying: 'the snake that is never full swallows an elephant.' Greed that knows no bounds — the witch covets the treasures, her daughter covets an easy life, and the young huntsman loses his wits to a pretty face. Each one's greed leads straight to ruin. Chinese folk wisdom is full of such proverbs, from 'a heart that is never content' to 'those who are greedy end up empty-handed.' Yet the tale holds one more lesson worth sharing. After winning back what was his, the huntsman does not destroy everyone. The old witch's death is the wages of her own greed, but for the girl who truly repents, he chooses forgiveness — echoing the old advice that 'a quarrel is better ended than kept.' As you read, ask your child who is the greediest of all, and who learns to change first. In that question lies the heart of every fable, and of this story too.

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Donkey Cabbages - A kind young huntsman gives his last coins to an old woman in the woods, who shows him how to win a wishing-cloak and a bird's heart that makes gold. - Scene Illustration 1 — A kind young huntsman gives his last coins to an old woman in the woods, who shows him how to win a wishing-cloak and a bird's heart that makes gold.

Long ago, a young huntsman lived in a village by the woods. He was a kind young man, and he roamed the forest every day to hunt. One day, an old woman in rags stopped him on the path. "Good young man," she said, "I am hungry and thirsty. Please give me a little money."

The huntsman felt sorry for her. He took out his money and gave her every coin he had. The old woman smiled and said, "Your heart is good, so I will give you a gift. Walk on. Soon you will see a tree where nine birds are fighting over a cloak. Shoot into the middle of them. The cloak will fall, and one bird will drop dead. Keep that cloak, for it is a wishing-cloak. Put it on, wish for any place, and you will be there in a blink. Then cut out the dead bird's heart and swallow it whole. Every morning, a gold coin will lie under your pillow."

The huntsman did not know if he should believe her, but he thanked her and walked on. Before he had gone a hundred steps, he heard a loud noise above his head. He looked up. There was the tree, and nine birds were tearing a cloak with their beaks and claws.

He raised his gun and fired into the middle of them. The birds flew off in a panic. One bird fell dead, and the cloak came down with it. The huntsman did as the old woman had said. He cut open the bird, took out the heart, and swallowed it. Then he carried the cloak home.

The next morning, he lifted his pillow. A gold coin lay there, shining. And so it was every morning after that. Soon he had a pile of gold. "What is the use of all this gold if I stay at home?" he thought. "I want to see the world." So he said goodbye to his parents, took his gun, and set out on the road.

Donkey Cabbages - At a castle, a witch and her pretty daughter trick the huntsman out of the bird's heart and the cloak, leaving him alone on the Garnet Mountain. - Scene Illustration 2 — At a castle, a witch and her pretty daughter trick the huntsman out of the bird's heart and the cloak, leaving him alone on the Garnet Mountain.

After many days, his road led him through a thick forest. Where the trees ended, a fine castle stood on the plain. An old woman lived there with her very beautiful daughter. But the old woman was a witch, and she knew at once that the huntsman carried a treasure. "He has a bird's heart in his belly," she told her daughter. "It makes gold every day. He also has a wishing-cloak. Get both from him, and we shall live well for the rest of our days."

The daughter did as her mother told her. She was sweet to the huntsman and smiled at him all the time. The huntsman had walked a long way, and he had never seen such a pretty face. Soon he loved her so much that he believed every word she said.

One day, the girl brought him a cup of sweet wine. "Dear guest," she said, "please drink this." He drank it all. But the wine was a magic drink. As soon as it went down, he felt sick and brought the bird's heart up. The girl picked it up in secret and swallowed it herself. From that day on, no more gold lay under his pillow. It lay under hers instead.

But the old witch still wanted the wishing-cloak. So the girl stood by the window and sighed. "Why are you so sad?" asked the huntsman. "Across there is the Garnet Mountain," she said. "Precious stones grow there, and I dream of them. But no one can climb that mountain. Only the birds can reach it."

The huntsman laughed. "Is that all?" he said. He drew her under his cloak, wished for the mountain, and in a blink they were sitting on it. Gems glittered all around them, and they picked up the finest ones. But the witch had cast a spell to make him sleepy. His eyes grew heavy, and he laid his head in the girl's lap and fell asleep. Then she took the cloak from his shoulders, gathered up the gems, wished herself home, and left him alone on the mountain.

Donkey Cabbages - Giants predict that a cloud will carry the huntsman away; he rides it to a great garden, where one cabbage turns him into a donkey and another turns him back. - Scene Illustration 3 — Giants predict that a cloud will carry the huntsman away; he rides it to a great garden, where one cabbage turns him into a donkey and another turns him back.

When the huntsman woke up, he saw that he was alone. His sweetheart had tricked him and gone. He sat on the bare mountain, full of anger and grief. "There is no faith in this world!" he cried.

Now that mountain belonged to three wild giants. Soon they came his way. The first giant poked him with his foot. "What little worm is this?" he said. "Step on him and finish him," said the second. But the third giant said, "Leave him alone. He cannot stay here. If he climbs to the top, a cloud will carry him off." Then they went away.

The huntsman heard every word. As soon as the giants were gone, he climbed to the top of the mountain. He sat there for a little while. Then a cloud drifted down, lifted him up, and carried him across the sky. At last it sank lower and set him down in a big garden with high walls. The garden was full of cabbages.

The huntsman was very hungry. There were no apples or pears in the garden, only cabbages. He picked a fine head of cabbage and began to eat. After two mouthfuls, his body began to change. Four legs grew on him, and a big head, and two long ears. He had turned into a donkey! He was frightened, but his hunger was strong, and the leaves tasted good, so he went on eating.

At the far end of the garden, he found a cabbage of another kind. He took a bite, and at once he felt the change again. His own shape came back. The huntsman was overjoyed, and a plan grew in his mind.

Donkey Cabbages - Disguised as a King's messenger, the huntsman returns to the castle and turns the greedy witch, the hungry maid, and his own beloved into donkeys with the bad cabbage. - Scene Illustration 4 — Disguised as a King's messenger, the huntsman returns to the castle and turns the greedy witch, the hungry maid, and his own beloved into donkeys with the bad cabbage.

He broke off one head of the bad cabbage and one head of the good cabbage. He hid them in his coat, darkened his face with dirt, and made himself look like a poor country man. Then he climbed over the wall and set out for the castle.

At the castle gate, he asked for shelter. "I am so tired that I cannot walk another step," he said. The witch asked who he was. "I am a messenger of the King," he said. "I was sent to find the most delicious salad in the world. I found it, and it is with me now. But the sun is too hot, and the tender leaves are already wilting."

When the witch heard of the delicious salad, greed filled her heart. "Let me taste it, good man," she begged. "Why not?" said the huntsman. "I have two heads, and you may have one." He took out the bad cabbage and gave it to her. She hurried to the kitchen and cooked it herself. She could not wait. She put two leaves in her mouth — and at once she turned into a donkey and ran out into the yard.

A little later, the maid came into the kitchen. She saw the salad standing ready, and her mouth watered. She ate two leaves. The magic worked at once. She too became a donkey and ran out to join the old witch, and the dish of salad fell to the floor.

Upstairs, the pretty girl was waiting. "Where is the salad?" she said. "I will go and see," said the huntsman. He went down, saw the two donkeys in the yard and the salad on the floor, and knew what had happened. He picked up the leaves, put them on the dish, and carried it to the girl. She ate a few bites, and in a blink she ran out into the yard as a donkey, too. "Greed brings its own punishment," thought the huntsman.

Donkey Cabbages - The huntsman leaves the three donkeys with a miller; after the witch dies, pity moves him to restore the other two, forgive the maiden, and marry her. - Scene Illustration 5 — The huntsman leaves the three donkeys with a miller; after the witch dies, pity moves him to restore the other two, forgive the maiden, and marry her.

The huntsman washed his face, so the three could see who he was. Then he roped the three donkeys together and drove them down the road to a mill. "I have three stubborn beasts here," he told the miller. "Please take care of them for me. The old one must get three beatings and one meal a day. The smaller one gets one beating and three meals. The youngest one gets no beating at all and three meals, because I cannot bear to hurt her. I will pay you well."

The miller did as he was told. Two days later, he came to the huntsman. "The old donkey is dead," he said. "The other two are still alive, but they are so sad and weak that they will not last long."

But pity filled the huntsman's heart. He put his anger away. "Drive them back to me," he said. When the two donkeys came, he fed them the good cabbage, and at once they became people again. The girl fell on her knees before him. "Forgive me," she wept. "My mother forced me to do it. Your cloak is still hanging in the cupboard, and I can bring up the bird's heart with a drink."

The huntsman raised her up. "Enough," he said. "Hatred only breeds more hatred. If you truly change your ways, I will forget the past."

So they were married. From that day on, the huntsman never trusted magic treasures again, and the two of them lived in peace to the end of their days. And to this day, people say: the greedy end up empty-handed, but those who can forgive carry a whole world in their hearts.

Vocabulary from "Donkey Cabbages"

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

roamed(roam)B2

/rəʊmd/v.

Walked or travelled around without a fixed plan.

四处游荡；漫游。

He was a kind young man, and he roamed the forest every day to hunt.
从前，有个年轻猎人，心地善良，常年出入山林打猎。

in ragsB2

/ɪn ræɡz/phr.

Wearing very old, torn clothes.

衣衫褴褛；穿着破旧的衣服。

One day, an old woman in rags stopped him on the path.
有一天，他在林子里遇见一个衣衫褴褛的白发老妇。

panicB1

/ˈpænɪk/n.

Sudden strong fear that makes people act wildly.

恐慌；惊慌。

The birds flew off in a panic.
猎人举枪瞄准，一枪打去，鸟群惊散。

sighB1

/saɪ/v.

To breathe out slowly and loudly because you are sad or tired.

叹气；叹息。

So the girl stood by the window and sighed.
姑娘便依母亲吩咐，站在窗前，望着远处的宝石山，长吁短叹。

glitterB2

/ˈɡlɪtə/v.

To shine with many small flashes of light.

闪闪发光；闪烁。

Gems glittered all around them, and they picked up the finest ones.
眨眼间两人已坐在宝石山上，四周宝石闪闪发光。

spellB2

/spel/n.

Magic power or magic words that change things or people.

咒语；法术。

But the witch had cast a spell to make him sleepy.
可女巫早施了法术，猎人的眼皮越来越沉。

griefB2

/ɡriːf/n.

Deep sadness, often after losing something or someone.

悲痛；忧伤。

He sat on the bare mountain, full of anger and grief.
他坐在山顶上，又气又恨。

pokeB2

/pəʊk/v.

To push someone or something with a finger or a stick.

戳；捅。

The first giant poked him with his foot.
一个巨人用脚踢踢他。

driftB2

/drɪft/v.

To move slowly through the air or on water, carried by the wind.

飘移；缓缓飘动。

Then a cloud drifted down, lifted him up, and carried him across the sky.
果然，一片云飘来，轻轻托起他，在天空飘了许久。

wiltC1

/wɪlt/v.

To become soft and droop, as a plant does without water.

枯萎；蔫掉。

But the sun is too hot, and the tender leaves are already wilting.
可太阳太毒，菜眼看要晒蔫了。

greedB2

/ɡriːd/n.

A strong wish to have more than you need.

贪婪；贪心。

When the witch heard of the delicious salad, greed filled her heart.
女巫一听“天下最鲜美的沙拉”，贪心顿起。

pityB2

/ˈpɪti/n.

A feeling of sadness for someone who is suffering.

怜悯；同情。

But pity filled the huntsman's heart.
猎人听了，心一下子软了。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Kindness is repaid with kindness, and greed brings its own downfall — but true strength lies in seeking justice, and then in knowing when to forgive.

Educational Value

Teaches children that kindness should not be given for a reward, that sweet words may hide a trap, and that forgiving someone who truly repents is a sign of strength.

Tips for Parents

After reading, ask your child why the huntsman gave the old woman all his money, how the witch and her daughter tricked him step by step, and whether forgiving the girl in the end was right. You may also teach the saying 'greed is a bottomless pit' and let your child find the greediest person in the tale.

Talk About It

The old woman gives the huntsman wonders after he gives her only a little money. Do you think he gave out of kindness or out of hope for a reward? Should kindness expect anything back?
The girl smiles at the huntsman, and little by little he hands over all his treasures. Can liking someone make us blind? At which step could he have stopped?
The witch, the maid, and the girl are treated differently at the mill. Why do you think the huntsman divides the punishment that way? How would you divide it?
The old saying goes that greed is a bottomless pit. Who is the greediest person in this story, and does her greed really make her happy?
The huntsman forgives the girl who tricked him. If you were him, would you forgive her? What makes forgiveness hard?

Donkey Cabbages

Introduction

Vocabulary from "Donkey Cabbages"

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Educational Value

Tips for Parents

Talk About It

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