Clever Hans
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Hans's mother asks, "Where are you going, Hans?"
Hans answers, "To GREtel's."
"Behave yourself, Hans."
"Behave myself. Good-bye, mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans comes to GREtel's. "Good day, Gretel."
"Good day, Hans. Are you bringing something good?"
"Bringing nothing. Want something."
GREtel gives Hans a needle.
Hans says, "Good-bye, GREtel."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans takes the needle, sticks it into a hay wagon, and walks home behind the wagon.
"Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
"At GREtel's."
"What did you take her?"
"Took nothing. Got something."
"What did GREtel give you?"
"Gave me a needle."
"Where is the needle, Hans?"
"Stuck in the hay wagon."
"That was stupid, Hans. You should have stuck the needle in your sleeve."
"Doesn't matter. Do better."
"Where are you going, Hans?"
"To GREtel's, mother."
"Behave yourself, Hans."
"Behave myself. Good-bye, mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans comes to GREtel's. "Good day, Gretel."
"Good day, Hans. Are you bringing something good?"
"Bringing nothing. Want something."
GREtel gives Hans a knife.
"Good-bye, GREtel."
"Good-bye Hans."
Hans takes the knife, sticks it in his sleeve, and goes home.
"Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
"At GREtel's."
"What did you take her?"
"Took nothing. Got something."
"What did GREtel give you?"
"Gave me a knife."
"Where is the knife, Hans?"
"Stuck in my sleeve."
"That was stupid, Hans. You should have put the knife in your pocket."
"Doesn't matter. Do better."
"Where are you going, Hans?"
"To GREtel's, mother."
"Behave yourself, Hans."
"Behave myself. Good-bye, mother."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans comes to GREtel's. "Good day, Gretel."
"Good day, Hans. Are you bringing something good?"
"Bringing nothing. Want something."
GREtel gives Hans a young goat.
"Good-bye, GREtel."
"Good-bye, Hans."
Hans takes the goat, ties its legs, and puts it in his pocket. When he arrives home it has suffocated.
"Good evening, mother."
"Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?"
"At GREtel's."
"What did you take her?"
"Took nothing. Got something."
"What did GREtel give you?"
She gave me a goat.
"Where is the goat, Hans?"
"Put it in my pocket."
"That was stupid, Hans. You should have tied a rope around the goat's neck."