In a quaint village nestled amidst rolling hills and verdant meadows, there lived a humble tailor with his three spirited sons and a peculiar goat. This goat, despite its unassuming appearance, was the source of much consternation in the household. Each day, one of the sons would dutifully lead the goat to pasture, ensuring it grazed upon the lush grass. Yet, upon their return, the goat would bleat discontentedly to the tailor, claiming it had found no sustenance. The tailor, trusting the goat's plaintive cries, grew increasingly frustrated with his sons, each of whom insisted they had fulfilled their task. This cycle of accusation and denial sowed discord within the family, setting the stage for a series of extraordinary events.
The eldest son, a robust lad with a knack for craftsmanship, was the first to lead the goat to pasture. He guided the animal to a field where the grass reached up to his knees, lush and inviting. The goat nibbled contentedly, its mouth full of the tender greenery. Yet, upon their return, when the tailor inquired about its day, the goat lamented, 'I leapt among graves, and found no food.' Outraged, the tailor chastised his eldest, dismissing his protests with a wave of his hand. As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, the tailor's trust in his sons waned, while the goat's cunning deception went unnoticed.
Next, the middle son took his turn. With a heart full of determination to prove his worth, he led the goat to a different pasture, where wildflowers blossomed amidst the verdant expanse. He watched over the goat as it feasted, its tail flicking with satisfaction. Yet, upon returning home, the goat repeated its tale of woe to the tailor, who scolded the middle son with equal fervor. The boy's earnest pleas fell on deaf ears as the tailor's anger blazed, fueled by the goat's insistent bleating. This pattern of deceit continued, eroding the bonds of trust within the family.
Finally, it was the youngest son's turn. A gentle soul with a penchant for understanding animals, he was confident the goat would not deceive him. He led it to the most fertile pasture he could find, where clover and dandelions grew in abundance. The goat munched happily, seemingly content. However, upon their return, the goat once more spun its false tale. The tailor, now thoroughly exasperated, drove out the youngest son, convinced of his sons' collective incompetence. With heavy hearts, the brothers left their father's home, each set on a path that would test their resilience and resourcefulness.
The eldest son, wandering far from his home, found solace in a bustling town where he apprenticed himself to a skilled joiner. His diligence and craftsmanship soon earned him a magical gift: a wondrous table that, at the command 'Little table, spread thyself,' would be laden with the finest foods. The joiner, recognizing the young man's potential, bestowed this enchanted table upon him, urging him to use it wisely. With newfound hope and determination, the eldest son set out to prove his worth and perhaps, one day, reunite with his family.
Meanwhile, the middle son, driven by a desire to forge his own path, became an apprentice to a miller. His diligence and hard work did not go unnoticed, and as a reward, he was gifted a remarkable creature known as the gold-ass. At the command 'Bricklebrit,' the ass would produce gold coins, a gift that promised to change the young man's fortunes. With dreams of prosperity and reconciliation, the middle son journeyed forth, eager to share his newfound wealth with his estranged family.
The youngest son, ever resourceful and quick-witted, found his calling with a master turner. Under the turner's tutelage, he honed his skills and, in return, was entrusted with a magical sack. This unassuming item contained a cudgel that, at the utterance 'Out of the sack, Cudgel!' would spring forth to defend its owner against any wrongdoing. The youngest son, with this powerful ally, set out with a heart full of hope, intent on rectifying the injustices that had befallen him and his brothers.
As fate would have it, the paths of the three brothers converged at an inn where the eldest and middle sons, unaware of the innkeeper's deceitful nature, decided to rest. The eldest proudly demonstrated his wishing-table, only to have it replaced with an ordinary one by the cunning innkeeper. Similarly, the middle son, eager to share his gold-ass's miraculous abilities, found it swapped for a common beast. The brothers, oblivious to the treachery, departed the inn, their magical possessions lost to the innkeeper's greed.
The youngest son, arriving at the same inn, sensed something amiss. He observed the innkeeper's sly demeanor and decided to keep his magical sack close. When night fell, the innkeeper, driven by avarice, attempted to steal the sack, believing it held untold treasures. The youngest, ever vigilant, whispered the command, 'Out of the sack, Cudgel!' Instantly, the cudgel sprang to life, delivering swift justice to the unscrupulous innkeeper, who begged for mercy and promised to return the stolen items.
True to his word, the innkeeper returned the wishing-table and the gold-ass to their rightful owners, his greed tempered by the cudgel's lesson. The youngest son, with his brothers' treasures restored, felt a sense of triumph and justice. Together, the brothers marveled at their reclaimed gifts, their spirits buoyed by the knowledge that they could now return home with heads held high and hearts full of hope.
With their magical items in tow, the brothers embarked on the journey back to their father's house. Along the way, they recounted their adventures, each tale more wondrous than the last. The eldest spoke of the feasts conjured by his table, the middle of the wealth bestowed by his ass, and the youngest of the courage and protection provided by his cudgel. Their bond, once strained, was now stronger than ever, fortified by shared experiences and mutual respect.
Upon their return, the tailor, now older and wiser, was overjoyed to see his sons again. The brothers, eager to showcase their magical treasures, set the table and invited their father to a bountiful feast. The tailor, witnessing the miraculous spread, was filled with pride and gratitude. As the brothers shared their stories, the tailor's heart swelled with regret for having doubted them, yet also with joy at their triumphant return.
As the family celebrated their reunion, the goat, whose deceit had sown the seeds of their initial discord, was brought forth. The tailor, now aware of the goat's falsehoods, decided it was time for the creature to face the consequences of its actions. With a heavy heart, he shaved the goat's coat and administered a light whipping, a symbolic gesture to mark its betrayal. The goat, feeling the sting of its own misdeeds, bolted from the house, disappearing into the woods.
The goat, now shorn and humbled, wandered aimlessly until it stumbled upon a fox's den. Seeking refuge, it crept inside, only to be met by the angry hum of a bee. The bee, displeased by the intrusion, delivered a sharp sting to the goat's nose. Startled and pained, the goat fled once more, its fate uncertain in the vast wilderness. Meanwhile, the family, having reconciled and forgiven past grievances, continued their feast, their hearts full of love and laughter, grateful for the magic that had reunited them.
