Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do comes right—all that falls to them is so much gain—all their geese are swans—all their cards are trumps—toss them which way you will, they will always, like poor puss, alight upon their legs,and only move on so much the faster. The world may very likely not always think of them as they think of themselves, but what care they for the world? what can it know about the matter?
One of these lucky beings was neighbour Hans.Seven long years he had worked hard for his master.At last he said, \\u0027Master, my time is up; I must go home and see my poor mother once more: so pray pay me my wages and let me go.\\u0027 And the master said, \\u0027You have been a faithful and good servant, Hans, so your pay shall be handsome.\\u0027 Then he gave him a lump of silver as big as his head.
Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the piece of silver into it, threw it over his shoulder, and jogged off on his road homewards. As he went lazily on,dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight,trotting gaily along on a capital horse. \\u0027Ah!\\u0027 said Hans aloud, \\u0027what a fine thing it is to ride on horseback!There he sits as easy and happy as if he was at home,in the chair by his fireside; he trips against no stones,saves shoe-leather, and gets on he hardly knows how.\\u0027Hans did not speak so softly but the horseman heard it all, and said, \\u0027Well, friend, why do you go on foot then?\\u0027 \\u0027Ah!\\u0027 said he, \\u0027I have this load to carry: to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can\\u0027t hold up my head, and you must know it hurts my shoulder sadly.\\u0027 \\u0027What do you say of making an exchange?\\u0027 said the horseman. \\u0027I will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver; which will save you a great deal of trouble in carrying such a heavy load about with you.\\u0027 \\u0027With all my heart,\\u0027 said Hans: \\u0027but as you are so kind to me, I must tell you one thing—you will have a weary task to draw that silver about with you.\\u0027 However, the horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other, and said, \\u0027When you want to go very fast, smack your lips loudly together, and cry\\\"Jip!\\\"\\u0027
Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse, drew himself up, squared his elbows, turned out his toes, cracked his whip, and rode merrily off, one minute whistling a merry tune, and another singing,
\\u0027No care and no sorrow,
A fig for the morrow!
We\\u0027ll laugh and be merry,
Sing neigh down derry!\\u0027
After a time he thought he should like to go a little faster, so he smacked his lips and cried \\u0027Jip!\\u0027 Away went the horse full gallop; and before Hans knew what he was about, he was thrown off, and lay on his back by the road-side. His horse would have ran off, if a shepherd who was coming by, driving a cow, had not stopped it. Hans soon came to himself, and got upon his legs again, sadly vexed, and said to the shepherd,\\u0027This riding is no joke, when a man has the luck to get upon a beast like this that stumbles and flings him off as if it would break his neck. However, I\\u0027m off now once for all: I like your cow now a great deal better than this smart beast that played me this trick, and has spoiled my best coat, you see, in this puddle; which,by the by, smells not very like a nosegay. One can walk along at one\\u0027s leisure behind that cow—keep good company, and have milk, butter, and cheese,every day, into the bargain. What would I give to have such a prize!\\u0027 \\u0027Well,\\u0027 said the shepherd, \\u0027if you are so fond of her, I will change my cow for your horse;I like to do good to my neighbours, even though I lose by it myself.\\u0027 \\u0027Done!\\u0027 said Hans, merrily. \\u0027What a noble heart that good man has!\\u0027 thought he. Then the shepherd jumped upon the horse, wished Hans and the cow good morning, and away he rode.
Hans brushed his coat, wiped his face and hands,rested a while, and then drove off his cow quietly,and thought his bargain a very lucky one. \\u0027If I have only a piece of bread (and I certainly shall always be able to get that), I can, whenever I like, eat my butter and cheese with it; and when I am thirsty I can milk my cow and drink the milk: and what can I wish for more?\\u0027 When he came to an inn, he halted, ate up all his bread, and gave away his last penny for a glass of beer. When he had rested himself he set off again,driving his cow towards his mother\\u0027s village. But the heat grew greater as soon as noon came on, till at last,as he found himself on a wide heath that would take him more than an hour to cross, he began to be so hot and parched that his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. \\u0027I can find a cure for this,\\u0027 thought he; \\u0027now I will milk my cow and quench my thirst\\u0027: so he tied her to the stump of a tree, and held his leathern cap to milk into; but not a drop was to be had. Who would have thought that this cow, which was to bring him milk and butter and cheese, was all that time utterly dry? Hans had not thought of looking to that.