A wealthy farmer has three sons: the selfish eldest, the weak middle, and the honest youngest, Janko. The farmer's left eye weeps for a stolen Magic Grape-Vine that once provided endless wine. Janko, unlike his brothers, bravely asks their father about the vine and vows to find it. The older brothers mock him but are forced to let him join their quest. At a crossroads, the brothers conspire to rid themselves of Janko, each taking a different path. Janko encounters a Little Lame Fox, whom he feeds. The Fox, grateful, offers to help him find the Grape-Vine. She guides him to a king's garden where the vine is guarded. Janko, forgetting the Fox's warning, uses a golden spade to dig up the vine, waking the guards who capture him. The king demands a Golden Apple-Tree in exchange for the vine. The Fox helps Janko again, warning him to avoid the golden pole when harvesting apples. Janko, however, forgets and is caught again. The king then demands a Golden Horse in exchange for the apple tree. The Fox assists once more, instructing Janko to use a hempen bridle. Janko, distracted by the horse's beauty, uses the golden bridle and is captured again. The king now wants a Golden Maiden who has never seen the sun. The Fox helps Janko one last time, guiding him to a cavern where the maiden is imprisoned. Janko successfully rescues her, locking the doors behind him to evade the guards. The Fox transforms into a maiden, suggesting they disguise her to secure the horse and tree. Janko trades the disguised Fox for the Golden Horse, but the ruse is discovered, leading to the execution of the king's courtier. The Fox helps Janko again, transforming into the Golden Apple-Tree, which he trades for the Grape-Vine. Janko returns home with the maiden, horse, and tree, but his brothers, now thieves, plot against him. They push Janko into a well, drowning him. The Fox revives him, revealing her true identity as a maiden cursed by her mother. She instructs Janko to expose his brothers' treachery. Upon his return, the farmer is shocked by their actions. The Golden Maiden expresses her desire to marry Janko, who feels like a prince. In the end, Janko marries the Golden Maiden, inherits the farmer's wealth, and lives happily, proving that a good heart is more valuable than cleverness.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1920 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure