GEORGE WITH THE GOAT

There was a king who had a daughter who never could be induced to laugh; she was always sad.  So the king proclaimed that she should be given to any one who could cause her to laugh.  There was also a shepherd who had a son named George.  He said:  “Daddy!  I, too, will go to see whether I can make her laugh.  I want nothing from you but the goat.”  His father said, “Well, go.”  The goat was of such a nature that, when her master wished, she detained everybody, and that person was obliged to stay by her.

So he took the goat and went, and met a man who had a foot on his shoulder.  George said:  “Why have you a foot on your shoulder?” He replied:  “If I take it off, I leap a hundred miles.”  “Whither are you going?” “I am going in search of service, to see if any one will take me.”  “Well, come with us.”

They went on, and again met a man who had a bandage on his eyes.  “Why have you a bandage on your eyes?” He answered, “If I remove the bandage, I see a hundred miles.”  “Whither are you going?” “I am going in search of service, if you will take me.”  “Yes, I’ll take you.  Come also with me.”

They went on a bit farther, and met another fellow, who had a bottle under his arm, and, instead of a stopper, held his thumb in it.  “Why do you hold your thumb there?” “If I pull it out, I squirt a hundred miles, and besprinkle everything that I choose.  If you like, take me also into your service; it may be to your advantage and ours too.”  George replied:  “Well, come, too!”

Afterward they came to the town where the king lived, and bought a silken riband for the goat.  They came to an inn, and orders had already been given there beforehand, that when such people came, they were to give them what they liked to eat and drink—­the king would pay for all.  So they tied the goat with that very riband and placed it in the innkeeper’s room to be taken care of, and he put it in the side room where his daughters slept.  The innkeeper had three maiden daughters, who were not yet asleep.  So Manka said:  “Oh! if I, too, could have such a riband!  I will go and unfasten it from that goat.”  The second, Dodla, said:  “Don’t; he’ll find it out in the morning.”  But she went notwithstanding.  And when Manka did not return for a long time, the third, Kate, said:  “Go, fetch her.”  So Dodla went, and gave Manka a pat on the back.  “Come, leave it alone!” And now she, too, was unable to withdraw herself from her.  So Kate said:  “Come, don’t unfasten it!” Kate went and gave Dodla a pat on the petticoat; and now she, too, couldn’t get away, but was obliged to stay by her.

In the morning George made haste and went for the goat, and led the whole set away—­Kate Dodla, and Manka.  The innkeeper was still asleep.  They went through the village, and the judge looked out of a window and said, “Fie, Kate! what’s this? what’s this?” He went and took her by the hand, wishing to pull her away, but remained also by her.  After this, a cowherd drove some cows through a narrow street, and the bull came rushing round; he stuck fast, and George led him, too, in the procession.