Hans in Luck

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

Age5–10
Reading time10 min
LevelIntermediate

Introduction

Among all the tales the Brothers Grimm collected, "Hans in Luck" is an odd one. There is no magic, no witch, and no villain — just a good-hearted young man who, on his way home, trades a fortune down to nothing and still feels lucky. That makes it a perfect story to retell in the style of a fable. A fable is short and simple, with plain characters and one clear point, and every line pushes toward that point. Each of Hans's trades is like a comma in a long sentence that ends with a simple truth: a contented heart is richer than a full purse. Chinese readers will hear an echo of the old story of the old man at the border who lost his horse — loss may be good fortune, and good fortune may be loss, for the two turn into each other at any moment. Hans loses everything he owns, yet he calls himself the luckiest man alive. The lightness he finds is something many grown-ups never discover. When you read this story with a child, do not rush to say whether Hans is foolish or wise. Ask instead: "Why does he grow happier with every trade?" Let the child walk the whole road with Hans, and then look back — was it the gold that weighed him down, or the worry in his mind? For two hundred years readers have laughed at Hans or admired him, and there is no single right answer. That open question is exactly what makes this little tale so worth telling.

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Hans in Luck - Hans earns a lump of gold as big as his head for seven years of work. But the gold is too heavy, so when he meets a horseman, he trades his gold for the horse. - Scene Illustration 1 — Hans earns a lump of gold as big as his head for seven years of work. But the gold is too heavy, so when he meets a horseman, he trades his gold for the horse.

Long ago, a young man named Hans worked for a rich master for seven years, from sunrise to sunset, never lazy. His old mother lived alone in a far village, and Hans counted the days until he could see her again. One day he said, "Master, my time is done. Give me my wages, and I will go home to my mother." The master nodded and said, "You have served me faithfully for seven years, so your reward will be a good one." He gave Hans a lump of gold as big as his head. Hans wrapped it in his scarf, put it on his shoulder, and set off for home, thinking that his mother would never be poor again.

The gold was fine, but it was heavy. Hans walked slowly, step by step, and his shoulder ached. His joy faded with every drop of sweat. Soon a horseman rode past on a fine horse, looking free and happy. Hans thought, "How wonderful it is to ride! You sit as if in a chair. No stones hurt your feet, you save your shoes, and you get home without any trouble."

The horseman heard him, stopped, and asked, "Hello, Hans! Why are you walking on foot?" Hans sighed. "I have no choice. This gold presses my head down, and it is cutting into my shoulder."

The horseman smiled. "Let us trade," he said. "You take my horse, and I will take your gold. Then we are both happy." Hans was overjoyed and thanked him again and again, but he was honest enough to warn him, "I tell you now: with this gold on your back, you will crawl along like a snail."

Hans in Luck - Hans is thrown into a ditch and decides riding is too dangerous, so he trades the horse for a farmer's cow and dreams of milk, butter, and cheese. - Scene Illustration 2 — Hans is thrown into a ditch and decides riding is too dangerous, so he trades the horse for a farmer's cow and dreams of milk, butter, and cheese.

The man got down, took the gold, weighed it in his hand, and smiled. He helped Hans onto the horse and put the reins firmly into his hands. "If you want to go fast," he said, "click your tongue and shout: Gee up!"

Hans rode along, feeling very proud. After a while he wanted to go faster. He clicked his tongue and shouted, "Gee up! Gee up!" The horse broke into a fast trot, faster and faster, its mane flying in the wind. Hans shook left and right, lost his balance, and fell into a ditch beside the road. He landed hard and lay there for a while. The horse would have run away, but a farmer, who was leading a cow, caught it quickly by the reins.

Hans got up and rubbed his sore arm. "Riding is not for me," he said to the farmer. "That horse threw me and almost broke my neck. Your cow is much better. I can walk slowly behind her, and every day I will have milk, butter, and cheese. For such a life, I would not trade even for a mountain of gold!" The farmer was glad to hear this. "If you like my cow so much," he said, "let us trade." Hans was delighted, and the farmer rode away on the horse as fast as he could.

Hans drove the cow along and smiled to himself. "With this cow, I will never be hungry. When I want bread and butter, I will have them. When I am thirsty, I will drink fresh milk. What more could a man want in this world?"

Hans in Luck - Hans tries to milk the cow but the old animal kicks him down. A butcher wakes him and says the cow gives no milk, so Hans trades her for the butcher's pig. - Scene Illustration 3 — Hans tries to milk the cow but the old animal kicks him down. A butcher wakes him and says the cow gives no milk, so Hans trades her for the butcher's pig.

At noon the sun was burning hot, and there was not a bit of shade on the wide field, not even a breath of wind. Hans was very thirsty, and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. "I will milk my cow and drink," he thought. He tied the cow to a dry tree. He had no pail, so he put his leather cap under her to catch the milk. But not a drop came. Hans pulled too hard and grew clumsy, and the old cow grew angry. She kicked him on the head with her hind foot. Hans fell to the ground and lay there for a long time, not knowing where he was.

Luckily, a butcher came along the road just then, pushing a wheelbarrow with a young pig in it. He helped Hans up and handed him his flask. "Take a drink and catch your breath," he said. "That old cow will give you no milk. She is only fit for the plough or the knife."

Hans thought for a while. "Well," he said, "beef is too dry for my taste. But a young pig! That is much better. Its meat is sweet, and I can make sausages too."

"Listen, Hans," said the butcher with a smile. "Out of kindness, I will trade with you. You take my pig, and I will take your cow." Hans thanked him from the bottom of his heart, gave him the cow, and took the rope that was tied to the pig. Then he went on his way, content with his new animal.

Hans in Luck - A clever lad makes Hans fear his pig was stolen. To be safe, Hans trades the pig for a goose and dreams of roast meat and a feather pillow. - Scene Illustration 4 — A clever lad makes Hans fear his pig was stolen. To be safe, Hans trades the pig for a goose and dreams of roast meat and a feather pillow.

Hans walked along with the pig, singing to himself. Everything went well for him, he thought; every trouble was put right at once. Soon a young man caught up with him, carrying a fine white goose under his arm. They wished each other good morning, and Hans told him about all his lucky trades, one by one. The young man said he was taking the goose to a feast. "Feel how heavy she is," he said. "She has been fattened for eight weeks. When she is roasted, the fat will run down your chin."

Then the young man looked around suspiciously and shook his head. "Hans," he said in a low voice, "I am afraid your pig may be stolen. In the last village, the mayor lost a pig from his pen, and people are looking for it. If they catch you with this pig, you will be in big trouble. At the very least, they will lock you up in a dark room."

Poor Hans was frightened. "Goodness me! Please help me. You know this place better than I do. Take my pig and give me your goose, and we will call it even." The young man pretended to think. "There is some risk for me," he said, "but I would not let you get into trouble." He took the rope and hurried away down a side path with the pig.

Hans walked home with the goose under his arm, contented and light of heart. "When I think it over," he said to himself, "I have really gained by this trade. First, there is the fine roast meat. Then there is the fat for my bread. And best of all, the soft white feathers! I will fill a pillow with them and sleep like a baby. How pleased my mother will be!"

Hans in Luck - Hans trades the goose for a grindstone and a plain stone, and when both fall into a well he feels set free, runs home empty-handed, and learns that a contented heart is true wealth. - Scene Illustration 5 — Hans trades the goose for a grindstone and a plain stone, and when both fall into a well he feels set free, runs home empty-handed, and learns that a contented heart is true wealth.

Near the last village, Hans saw a scissors-grinder sitting by his wheel. The wheel turned round and round with sparks flying, and the grinder sang a merry song. Hans stopped to watch him. "Things must go well with you," he said, "since you sing while you work." The grinder laughed. "This trade is a lucky one. A real grinder finds money in his pocket every time he puts his hand in. But where did you buy that fine goose?"

"I did not buy her. I traded my pig for her." "And the pig?" "I got it for a cow." "And the cow?" "It came from a horse." "And the horse?" "I gave a lump of gold for it." "And the gold?" "I earned it with seven years of work." The grinder nodded. "You have looked after yourself well every time. Get yourself to the point where money jingles in your pocket each time you stand up, and your fortune is made."

"And how can I do that?" asked Hans. "Become a grinder like me," said the man. "Nothing is needed for it but a grindstone; the rest follows by itself. I have one here. It is a little worn, I admit, but I will ask nothing for it except your goose. Is it a deal?"

"A deal! A deal!" cried Hans. "Then I will be the luckiest man alive!" He gave the goose to the grinder and took the grindstone. "Here," said the grinder, picking up a heavy, plain stone from the ground. "Take this stone too, into the bargain. You can hammer your old nails straight on it. Take it and keep it well."

Hans loaded the two stones onto his shoulders and walked on. "I was surely born lucky," he laughed. "Everything I want comes to me by itself." But he had been walking since early morning. He was very tired, and the stones were a heavy burden. He had eaten all his food long ago, and now his stomach was empty. He could not help wishing he did not have to carry them right now.

At last Hans came to a well in a field. He laid the stones on the edge of the well and bent down to drink. But he slipped, knocked against the stones, and both of them fell into the water. Hans watched them sink to the bottom with his own eyes. Then he clapped his hands and laughed for joy. He knelt down and thanked Heaven, for the two stones that had troubled him were gone, with nothing left to worry him. "There is no luckier man under the sun than me!" he cried. He stood up, light and free, and ran all the way home to his mother. And from that day on, he knew that a light heart is better than a heavy purse.

Vocabulary from "Hans in Luck"

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

wages(wage)B1

/ˈweɪdʒɪz/n.

Money that you are paid for your work.

工钱；工资。

Give me my wages, and I will go home to my mother.
请把工钱结给我吧，我要回家看望年迈的母亲。

faithfullyB2

/ˈfeɪθfəli/adv.

In a loyal and honest way, without cheating.

忠实地；诚心诚意地。

"You have served me faithfully for seven years, so your reward will be a good one."
"你伺候我七年，忠厚老实，工钱自然不能亏待你。"

lumpB1

/lʌmp/n.

A solid piece of something, without a clear shape.

（无定形的）一大块。

He gave Hans a lump of gold as big as his head.
他递给汉斯一块跟脑袋一般大的金子。

reins(rein)B2

/reɪnz/n.

The straps you hold to guide and control a horse.

缰绳。

He helped Hans onto the horse and put the reins firmly into his hands.
他扶汉斯上了马背，把缰绳牢牢塞进他手里。

ditchB1

/dɪtʃ/n.

A long, narrow hole dug beside a road or field.

沟；路边的沟。

Hans shook left and right, lost his balance, and fell into a ditch beside the road.
汉斯在马上东摇西晃，坐也坐不稳，一个跟头摔进了路边的沟里。

delighted(delight)B1

/dɪˈlaɪtɪd/adj.

Very pleased and happy about something.

非常高兴的；欣喜的。

Hans was delighted, and the farmer rode away on the horse as fast as he could.
汉斯喜出望外，农夫翻身上马，一溜烟跑远了。

butcherB1

/ˈbʊtʃə/n.

A person whose job is to cut up and sell meat.

屠夫；卖肉的人。

Luckily, a butcher came along the road just then, pushing a wheelbarrow with a young pig in it.
也是他命不该绝。这时，一个屠夫推着独轮车路过，车上躺着一头小猪。

feastB1

/fiːst/n.

A large, special meal for many people.

盛宴；宴席。

The young man said he was taking the goose to a feast.
小伙子说，他正要送这鹅去赴宴。

suspiciouslyB2

/səˈspɪʃəsli/adv.

In a way that shows you do not trust someone or something.

怀疑地；疑神疑鬼地。

Then the young man looked around suspiciously and shook his head.
说着，小伙子东张西望，压低声音道。

grindstoneC1

/ˈɡraɪndstəʊn/n.

A round stone that turns to sharpen knives and tools.

磨石；砂轮。

Nothing is needed for it but a grindstone; the rest follows by itself.
这行当别的都不要，只要一块磨石，其余自然就有了。

burdenB2

/ˈbɜːdn/n.

A heavy load, or something that makes you worried or tired.

重负；负担。

He was very tired, and the stones were a heavy burden.
他累得够呛，两块石头更是沉甸甸的负担。

contentedB2

/kənˈtentɪd/adj.

Happy and satisfied with what you have.

心满意足的；知足的。

Hans walked home with the goose under his arm, contented and light of heart.
汉斯夹着鹅往家走，心满意足，浑身轻快。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

A contented heart is a happy heart. A man weighed down by his own goods is never free, while a man with empty hands and a light mind can be happy anywhere.

Educational Value

Helps children see that owning more is not the same as being happy, and that it is wise to put down what is too heavy to carry. It also offers practice in retelling a chain of trades in the right order.

Tips for Parents

Ask your child whether Hans is clever or foolish, but let them give their reasons first. You can also play a small game: trade small objects back and forth, and talk about what is easy to give up and what is hard.

Talk About It

With every trade Hans owns something smaller, yet he grows happier each time. Do you think he is foolish, or wise about life?
If Hans had carried the gold all the way home, do you think he would have been as happy?
If you had a lump of gold as big as your head, what would you do with it?
Are "having a lot" and "feeling happy" the same thing? Can you give a small example from your own life?
Hans says losing the stones felt like finding a treasure. Have you ever felt lighter after letting something go?

Hans in Luck

Introduction

Vocabulary from "Hans in Luck"

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Educational Value

Tips for Parents

Talk About It

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