The story revolves around a young boy who discovers a magical sausage-peg that brings him soup whenever he wants it. However, the peg's magic comes with a price: every time the boy eats from it, his life expectancy decreases by one year. The boy must weigh the convenience of having instant food against the cost to his own mortality.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1908 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Satire