Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm

“ Tom Thumb climbed about in the hay, and found a splendid place to sleep. There he determined to rest till day came, and then to go home to his parents. But he had other experiences to go through first. This world is full of trouble and sorrow!
The Maid got up in the grey dawn to feed the cows. First she went into the barn, where she piled up an armful of hay, the very bundle in which poor Tom was asleep. But he slept so soundly that he knew nothing till he was almost in the mouth of the cow, who was eating him up with the hay. ”

“ Then the Peasant laughed, and said: ‘How can that be? You are much too small even to hold the reins.’
‘That doesn’t matter, if only Mother will harness the horse,’ answered Tom. ‘I will sit in his ear and tell him where to go.’
‘Very well,’ said the Father; ‘we will try it for once.’
When the time came, the Mother harnessed the horse, set Tom in his ear, and then the little creature called out ‘Gee-up’
Tom Thumb. ”

“ Scarcely had he set foot in the cow-shed before Tom began again, ‘Don’t bring me any more food.’
Then the Pastor was terrified too, and thought that the cow must be bewitched; so he ordered it to be killed. It was accordingly slaughtered, but the stomach, in which Tom was hidden, was thrown into the manure heap. Tom had the greatest trouble in working his way out. Just as he stuck out his head, a hungry Wolf ran by and snapped up the whole stomach with one bite. But still Tom did not lose courage. ‘Perhaps the Wolf will listen to reason,’ he said. ”