Long ago, a King had a daughter, Princess Stephanie, whom he loved dearly. She had been ill for a long time. Finally, the royal doctor declared, “She will be cured by eating a special apple.”
The King announced, “Whoever brings the special apple, that will cure Princess Stephanie, shall have her hand in marriage!”
Many people brought lots of apples, but none helped Princess Stephanie.
In a village far away, lived two brothers. Tom the elder one, decided to take a basket of apples from their apple tree, for the Princess. On the way, he met an old man. He asked Tom what he had in his basket. “Frogs’ legs!” replied Tom in irritation.
“So be it!” muttered the old man. Tom reached the palace. But when he opened the basket, it had frogs’ legs! The angry King threw him out.
Tom’s younger brother Hans was simple and honest. He also decided to take some apples for the Princess.
On the way, Hans came upon the same old man. On being asked what was in his basket, Hans politely said, “I have some apples, which I hope will cure the Princess.” The old man said, “So be it!”
When Princess Stephanie ate Hans’ apples, she was cured. But the King said, “Before you marry my daughter, bring me a Griffin’s feather.” So, Hans went to find the Griffin.
He had to cross a lake on the way. There, Hans met a man, who requested, “Please ask the Griffin why I am forced to carry people across the lake on my shoulders.”
Finally, Hans reached the Griffin’s house. He told his story to the Griffin’s wife, who agreed to hide him under her husband’s bed. When the Griffin was fast asleep, Hans pulled a feather from his tail. The Griffin woke up and exclaimed, “Somebody has just pulled my tail!”
His wife said, “A man had come but has gone now. He just wanted to know why the man at the lake has to carry people across on his shoulders.” The Griffin said, “That man must throw a large rock in the middle of the lake to be free from his curse.”
On his way back, Hans told the man at the lake what to do. The happy man gave Hans jewels and money.
Hans reached the King’s palace with the Griffin’s feather and plenty of riches. He then married the Princess and they lived happily ever after.
