Hans had served his master for seven years. "Master, my time is up," he said. "I should be glad to go back home to my mother; give me my wages." The master answered, "You have served me faithfully and honestly; as the service was so shall the reward be." He gave Hans a piece of gold as big as his head. Hans wrapped it in his handkerchief, put it on his shoulder, and set out for home.
As he walked, he saw a horseman trotting merrily by. "Ah!" said Hans. "What a fine thing it is to ride! You sit as on a chair; you stumble over no stones, you save your shoes."
The rider stopped. "Hollo! Hans, why do you go on foot?"
"I must," answered Hans. "I have this lump of gold to carry. It hurts my shoulder."
"I will tell you what," said the rider. "We will exchange: I will give you my horse, and you give me your gold."
"With all my heart," said Hans. The rider took the gold, helped Hans onto the horse, and gave him the bridle. "If you want to go fast, click your tongue and call out, 'Jup! Jup!'"
Hans was delighted. After a while, he wanted to go faster. He clicked his tongue and cried, "Jup! Jup!" The horse broke into a sharp trot and threw Hans into a ditch. A countryman driving a cow stopped the horse.
Hans stood up, vexed. "This riding is a poor joke! I like your cow. One can walk quietly behind her and have milk, butter, and cheese every day."
"Well," said the countryman, "if it pleases you, I will give you the cow for the horse." Hans agreed with delight. The countryman jumped on the horse and rode away.
Hans drove his cow and thought of his lucky bargain. "If I have bread, I can eat butter and cheese. If I am thirsty, I can milk my cow. What more can I want?"
At an inn, he ate all his food in his contentment. Then he continued his journey.
As noon approached, the heat grew oppressive. Hans was thirsty. "I will milk the cow and refresh myself," he thought. He tied her to a withered tree and tried to milk into his leather cap, but not a drop came. The impatient cow kicked him on the head, and he fell to the ground.
A butcher with a young pig in his wheelbarrow came along and helped him up. Hans told his story. The butcher gave him a drink. "That cow is old," he said. "It will give no milk. It is only fit for the butcher."
"Well, well," said Hans. "Beef is not juicy enough for me. A young pig like yours is the thing to have!"
"Hans," said the butcher, "out of love for you, I will exchange my pig for your cow." Hans thanked him and took the pig.
Hans went on, thinking how everything went as he wished. A lad carrying a fine white goose joined him. Hans boasted of his good bargains. The lad said he was taking the goose to a feast. "How heavy she is," he said. "She has been fattened for eight weeks."
"Yes," said Hans, weighing the goose. "She is heavy, but my pig is no bad one."
The lad looked around suspiciously. "It may not be all right with your pig," he whispered. "The Mayor in the last village had a pig stolen. If they catch you with it, you will be shut up."
Hans was terrified. "Help me! Take my pig and give me your goose."
"I shall risk it," said the lad. He took the pig and hurried away.
Hans, free from care, went on with the goose. "I have gained by the exchange," he thought. "Roast meat, fat for my bread, and feathers for my pillow. How glad my mother will be!"
In the last village, he met a scissors-grinder singing by his barrow. "All's well with you," said Hans.
"Yes," answered the grinder. "My trade has a golden foundation. But where did you buy that fine goose?"
"I exchanged my pig for it."
"And the pig?"
"For a cow."
"And the cow?"
"For a horse."
"And the horse?"
"For a lump of gold as big as my head."
"And the gold?"
"My wages for seven years' service."
"You have known how to look after yourself," said the grinder. "If you can hear money jingle in your pocket, you will have made your fortune."
"How shall I manage that?" asked Hans.
"You must be a grinder like me. You need only a grindstone. I have one here, a little worn. Give me your goose for it."
"How can you ask?" cried Hans. "I shall be the luckiest fellow on earth!" He gave the goose and received the grindstone.
"Here is a strong stone into the bargain," said the grinder, handing him an ordinary heavy stone. "You can hammer on it."
Hans loaded himself with the stones and went on, contented. "I must have been born lucky!" he cried.
But soon, tired and hungry, the stones weighed him down dreadfully. He crept to a well to rest and drink. He carefully placed the stones on the edge, sat down, and reached for water. He slipped, pushed the stones, and both fell into the well.
Hans saw them sink. He jumped for joy, knelt down, and thanked God for delivering him from his burden.
"There is no man under the sun so fortunate as I!" he cried. With a light heart, he ran home to his mother.