A man has a daughter known for her cleverness, prompting her parents to seek a suitable husband. A young man named Hans proposes but insists that she must be prudent. During a task in the cellar, Alice becomes distressed over a hatchet that could fall and harm her future child if she marries Hans. Her crying attracts the attention of her family, who join her in lamenting the imagined misfortune, each exclaiming how clever she is. Hans, witnessing this, decides that her cleverness is sufficient for marriage. After their wedding, Hans goes to work while Alice is tasked with gathering corn. Instead of working, she eats and then falls asleep in the field. When Hans returns and finds her missing, he assumes she is industrious. Eventually, he discovers her asleep and nets her, causing her to wake up confused and doubting her identity. She questions whether she is truly Clever Alice and, upon hearing Hans confirm her existence, panics and runs away, never to be seen again. The story explores themes of perception, identity, and the consequences of overthinking, ultimately leading to Alice's disappearance due to her inability to reconcile her cleverness with her reality.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1876 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fairy Tale, Adventure