Showing results for "Luck" in Classics

In this full-length Just William novel, William and the Outlaws decide to form the Knights of the Square Table, 'rightin' wrongs' for a minor fee ('Small wrongs: sixpence. Big wrongs: one shillin'.) In their quest to earn enough money to become tramps, they stop at no amount of do-gooding...

In this classic Grimm fairy tale, Hans cheerfully exchanges silver for a horse, a horse for a cow, a cow for a pig, a pig for a goose, and finally a goose for a grindstone—only to lose even that along the way. Yet at every turn, Hans feels lighter, freer, and more convinced of his extraordinary good fortune.

Mrs. Pepper, a widow, and her five children lived in a plain little brown house, where she struggled to feed and clothe her lively brood. The family had little in the way of luxury and hardly any of the things that many of us today take for granted, but they had such fun and good times together, and loved one another so dearly that, when a very rich little boy discovered the warmth and happiness that flooded the little brown house, he felt himself lucky to be in it.

Hans in Luck is a German folk tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in Grimm's Fairy Tales 1812. In Hans in Luck, filled with humorous twists and turns, Hans trades one possession for another, each time thinking he's bettering his situation. The story follows him as he sets out from his master's after completing seven years of service. Initially receiving a lump of gold as wages, he ends up with nothing but a simple whetstone through a series of trades. The tale serves as a cautionary yet lighthearted reminder to cherish the simple joys in life and to be content with what one has.

Hans has been working hard for seven years but wishes to return to see his poor mother. His master pays him his wages which amounts to a lump of gold the size of his head. Hans puts the gold in a handkerchief and starts out on his journey jogging but soon becomes tired. He spots a rider on horseback and seeing the ease at which the horse travels he offers to exchange his lump of gold for the horse. Happy with the exchange, the man gives him the horse and Hans rides off. The horse bolts and Hans gets bucked off, whereupon he meets a shepherd who convinces Hans to trade his horse for a cow.

Hans was a faithful servant. At the end of seven years his master gave him a lump of gold "as big as his head". Some will say that Hans was taken advantage of as he returned to his boyhood home. His gold was soon traded for something most considered of lesser value. The trades continued until Hans had nothing, yet Hans considered himself the most fortunate of men. Listen to this classic Brothers Grimm tale to learn the skill of contentment.