The Three Green Twigs (Children's Legends)
A poor woodcutter lives with his wife and three children in a small cottage. One day, while out gathering firewood, he finds three green twigs that have been left behind by the devil. The woodcutter's wife, who has been struggling to make ends meet, convinces him to use the twigs as kindling for their fire. However, when they are burned, they produce a large sum of money. The family is initially overjoyed but soon realizes that the money comes with a terrible curse: every time they try to spend it, something bad happens. The woodcutter's wife becomes ill and eventually dies after trying to buy medicine for their sick child. The woodcutter then tries to use the money to pay off his debts, but he is arrested and imprisoned. The story ends with the woodcutter's children being left alone in the world, forced to fend for themselves after their parents' tragic fate.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Religious Fiction, Children's Literature · 1,121 words
First lines
There was once on a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven. When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, "There, that one is getting his deserts! " In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night. And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, "How joyously thou singest, the Lord is not angry with thee.
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The Three Green Twigs (Children's Legends) is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1819 CE.
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- Work type: Fable
- Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Date: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Religious Fiction, Children's Literature, Legend, Moral Tale
- Length: 1,121 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The narrative includes fantastical elements, moral lessons, and a transformation, typical of fairy tales.
- Religious Fiction — The story involves themes of sin, penance, and divine intervention, central to religious fiction.
- Children's Literature — The simple language, moral lesson, and presence of talking animals make it suitable for children.
- Legend — The tale is presented as a traditional story with moral significance, characteristic of legends.
Tags
Fairy Tale · German Folklore · Children's Literature · Mythology · Legend · Fantasy · Adventure · Magic · Nature · Environment · Transformation · Coming of Age