The Devil's Hide: the Story of the Boy who would

A Finnish boy named Erkki outsmarts the Devil after his two older brothers fail to do so. Each brother, seeking work, encounters the Devil and agrees to a wager: whoever loses their temper first must forfeit a piece of their hide. The oldest brother, frustrated by a dull ax, loses his temper and pays the price. The second brother faces the same fate, returning home limping and defeated. Erkki, undeterred by his brothers' experiences, sets out to find work. When he meets the Devil, he makes the same bargain. However, when given the dull ax, Erkki remains calm, laughing off the situation. He discovers the Devil's cat hidden in the woodpile and, upon killing it, the ax regains its edge, allowing him to complete his tasks efficiently. The Devil, frustrated by Erkki's cleverness, attempts to provoke him into losing his temper through increasingly absurd tasks. Erkki cleverly interprets the Devil's orders in ways that infuriate him, yet he always manages to keep his composure. He tricks the Devil into believing he has killed Erkki by switching places with the Devil's wife, leading to the accidental death of the new wife instead. As the Devil's frustration grows, he plots to get rid of Erkki by moving away while he is out chopping wood. However, Erkki overhears the plan and follows them to their new location. The Devil's wife continues to pressure him to eliminate Erkki, leading to another failed assassination attempt. Ultimately, after a series of mishaps, the Devil loses his temper over the death of his new wife, and Erkki claims his reward: a patch of the Devil's hide. This hide becomes the material for a pair of boots that Erkki wears proudly, symbolizing his victory over the Devil. The story concludes with Erkki's reputation spreading, as he shares the secret of his success: maintaining his temper. The Devil, humiliated, never again makes a bargain with a Finn.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1935 · Genre: Fantasy, Fable, Children's Literature · 4,250 words

First lines

There was once a Finnish boy who got the best of the Devil. His name was Erkki. Erkki had two brothers who were, of course, older than he. They both tried their luck with the Devil and got the worst of it. Then Erkki tried his luck. They were sure Erkki, too, would be worsted, but he wasn't. Here is the whole story:

One day the oldest brother said:

What this Textopian page supports

The Devil's Hide: the Story of the Boy who wouldn't Lose his Temper is listed on Textopian as a novella by Parker Fillmore, dated 1935 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novella
• Author: Parker Fillmore
• Date: 1935 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fantasy, Fable, Children's Literature, Adventure, Folklore
• Length: 4,250 words
• Structure: 1 section, 148 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Devil's Hide: the Story of the Boy who wouldn't Lose his Temper by Parker Fillmore
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Devil's Hide: the Story of the Boy who wouldn't Lose his Temper?
• How does this novella by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• Jane Jane Dont Complain by Parker Fillmore
• The Clever Goat by Parker Fillmore
• The Little Man And His Little Gun by L. Frank Baum
• Clever Manka The Story Of A Girl Who Knew What To Say by Parker Fillmore
• The Partners by Parker Fillmore
• The Fairy by Anne Frank

Genres

• Fantasy — The story involves supernatural elements, including the Devil and magical occurrences.
• Fable — The narrative conveys a moral lesson about temperance and cleverness, typical of fables.
• Children's Literature — The story is suitable for children, featuring a young protagonist and simple, engaging storytelling.
• Adventure — Erkki's journey and encounters with the Devil present elements of adventure and challenge.

Tags

Coming-of-Age · Self-Control · Temperament · Childhood · Moral Lesson · Fiction · Novel · Young Adult · Personal Growth · Character Development · Emotional Intelligence · Patience

More by Parker Fillmore

• The Hickory Limb (1907)
• The Laughing Prince: the Story of the Boy who Could Talk Nonsense (1925)
• Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden (1920)
• The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told (1930)
• The Little Lame Fox: the Story of the Youngest Brother who Found the Magic Grape-Vine and Married the Golden Maiden (1920)
• The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse (1930)
• The Dragon's Strength: the Story of the Youngest Prince who Killed the Sparrow (1930)
• The Little Singing Frog: the Story of a Girl Whose Parents were Ashamed of Her (1930)
• All works by Parker Fillmore