Hans Christian Andersen

“ How frightened I was when I lay huddled in the sack, and the wind whistled about my ears when you threw me down from the bridge into the cold water! I sank to the bottom immediately; but I did not knock myself, for the most splendid soft grass grows down there. Upon that I fell; and immediately the sack was opened, and the loveliest maiden, with snow-white garments and a green wreath upon her wet hair, took me by the hand, and said, "Are you come. Little Claus? Here you have some cattle to begin with. A mile farther along the road there is a whole herd more, which I will give to you." ”

“ But I know what bends the stream makes—sometimes this way, sometimes that; there's a long way to go round: no, the thing can be managed in a shorter way by coming here to the land, and driving across the fields towards the river again. In this manner I save myself almost half a mile, and get all the quicker to my sea-cattle!'
'Oh, you are a fortunate man!' said Great Claus. 'Do you think I should get some sea-cattle too if I went down to the bottom of the river?'
'Yes, I think so,' replied Little Claus. 'But I cannot carry you in the sack as far as the river; you are too heavy for me! ”

“ And Great Claus was so frightened that he jumped out of the surgery straight into his carriage, and whipped the horses, and drove home. But the apothecary and all the people thought him mad, and so they let him drive whither he would.
'You shall pay for this!' said Great Claus, when he was out upon the high road: 'yes, you shall pay me for this. Little Claus!' And directly he got home he took the biggest sack he could find, and went over to Little Claus and said, 'Now, you've tricked me again! First I killed my horses, and then my old grandmother! That's all your fault ”