The Three Brothers

Author: Brothers Grimm

Font Size

Image Layout

Show Images

The Three Brothers - A father, unable to decide which of his three sons should inherit their only house, proposes a challenge: they must leave to learn a trade, and the one who demonstrates the greatest masterpiece upon return will win the house. The sons agree, choosing to become a blacksmith, a barber, and a fencing master. - Scene Illustration 1

A father, unable to decide which of his three sons should inherit their only house, proposes a challenge: they must leave to learn a trade, and the one who demonstrates the greatest masterpiece upon return will win the house. The sons agree, choosing to become a blacksmith, a barber, and a fencing master.

There was once a man who had three sons, and nothing else in the world but the house in which he lived. Now each of the sons wished to have the house after his father's death; but the father loved them all alike, and did not know what to do; he did not wish to sell the house, because it had belonged to his forefathers, else he might have divided the money amongst them.

At last a plan came into his head, and he said to his sons, "Go into the world, and try each of you to learn a trade, and, when you all come back, he who makes the best masterpiece shall have the house."

The sons were well content with this, and the eldest determined to be a blacksmith, the second a barber, and the third a fencing-master. They fixed a time when they should all come home again, and then each went his way.

The Three Brothers - The three brothers master their trades under skilled teachers. The blacksmith shoes the King's horses, the barber serves noblemen, and the fencer endures hardships to master his craft. They return to their father at the appointed time, discussing how best to prove their skills. - Scene Illustration 2

The three brothers master their trades under skilled teachers. The blacksmith shoes the King's horses, the barber serves noblemen, and the fencer endures hardships to master his craft. They return to their father at the appointed time, discussing how best to prove their skills.

It chanced that they all found skilful masters, who taught them their trades well. The blacksmith had to shoe the King's horses, and he thought to himself, "The house is mine, without doubt."

The barber only shaved great people, and he too already looked upon the house as his own. The fencing-master got many a blow, but he only bit his lip, and let nothing vex him; "for," said he to himself, "If you are afraid of a blow, you'll never win the house."

When the appointed time had gone by, the three brothers came back home to their father; but they did not know how to find the best opportunity for showing their skill, so they sat down and consulted together.

The Three Brothers - As they consult, a hare runs by. The barber seizes the opportunity, soaping and shaving the running hare's whiskers at full speed without cutting its skin, impressing their father greatly. - Scene Illustration 3

As they consult, a hare runs by. The barber seizes the opportunity, soaping and shaving the running hare's whiskers at full speed without cutting its skin, impressing their father greatly.

As they were sitting thus, all at once a hare came running across the field. "Ah, ha, just in time!" said the barber. So he took his basin and soap, and lathered away until the hare came up;

then he soaped and shaved off the hare's whiskers whilst he was running at the top of his speed, and did not even cut his skin or injure a hair on his body. "Well done!" said the old man. "your brothers will have to exert themselves wonderfully, or the house will be yours."

The Three Brothers - Shortly after, a carriage dashes by. The blacksmith chases it and replaces the horseshoes on a galloping horse without stopping it. The father is amazed and unsure who should win. - Scene Illustration 4

Shortly after, a carriage dashes by. The blacksmith chases it and replaces the horseshoes on a galloping horse without stopping it. The father is amazed and unsure who should win.

Soon after, up came a nobleman in his coach, dashing along at full speed. "Now you shall see what I can do, father," said the blacksmith;

so away he ran after the coach, took all four shoes off the feet of one of the horses whilst he was galloping, and put him on four new shoes without stopping him. "You are a fine fellow, and as clever as your brother," said his father; "I do not know to which I ought to give the house."

The Three Brothers - It begins to rain heavily. The fencing master swings his sword so fast that he creates a dry shield around himself, keeping completely dry. He wins the house, but the brothers choose to live there together happily until the end of their days. - Scene Illustration 5

It begins to rain heavily. The fencing master swings his sword so fast that he creates a dry shield around himself, keeping completely dry. He wins the house, but the brothers choose to live there together happily until the end of their days.

Then the third son said, "Father, let me have my turn, if you please;" and, as it was beginning to rain, he drew his sword, and flourished it backwards and forwards above his head so fast that not a drop fell upon him.

It rained still harder and harder, till at last it came down in torrents; but he only flourished his sword faster and faster, and remained as dry as if he were sitting in a house. When his father saw this he was amazed, and said, "This is the master-piece, the house is yours!"

His brothers were satisfied with this, as was agreed beforehand; and, as they loved one another very much, they all three stayed together in the house, followed their trades, and, as they had learnt them so well and were so clever, they earned a great deal of money.

Thus they lived together happily until they grew old; and at last, when one of them fell sick and died, the two others grieved so sorely about it that they also fell ill, and soon after died. And because they had been so clever, and had loved one another so much, they were all laid in the same grave.

The Three Brothers

You May Also Like

Little Red Riding Hood

Rapunzel

The Frog King or Iron Henry