There was once a merchant who had only one child, a son, that was very young, and barely able to run alone. He had two richly laden ships then making a voyage upon the seas, in which he had embarked all his wealth, in the hope of making great gains, when the news came that both were lost. Thus from being a rich man he became all at once so very poor that nothing was left to him but one small plot of land; and there he often went in an evening to take his walk, and ease his mind of a little of his trouble.
One day, as he was roaming along in a brown study,thinking with no great comfort on what he had been and what he now was, and was like to be, all on a sudden there stood before him a little, rough-looking,black dwarf. \\u0027Prithee, friend, why so sorrowful?\\u0027 said he to the merchant; \\u0027what is it you take so deeply to heart?\\u0027 \\u0027If you would do me any good I would willingly tell you,\\u0027 said the merchant. \\u0027Who knows but I may?\\u0027 said the little man: \\u0027tell me what ails you,and perhaps you will find I may be of some use.\\u0027 Then the merchant told him how all his wealth was gone to the bottom of the sea, and how he had nothing left but that little plot of land. \\u0027Oh, trouble not yourself about that,\\u0027 said the dwarf; \\u0027only undertake to bring me here, twelve years hence, whatever meets you first on your going home, and I will give you as much as you please.\\u0027 The merchant thought this was no great thing to ask; that it would most likely be his dog or his cat, or something of that sort, but forgot his little boy Heinel; so he agreed to the bargain, and signed and sealed the bond to do what was asked of him.
But as he drew near home, his little boy was so glad to see him that he crept behind him, and laid fast hold of his legs, and looked up in his face and laughed.Then the father started, trembling with fear and horror,and saw what it was that he had bound himself to do;but as no gold was come, he made himself easy by thinking that it was only a joke that the dwarf was playing him, and that, at any rate, when the money came, he should see the bearer, and would not take it in.
About a month afterwards he went upstairs into a lumber-room to look for some old iron, that he might sell it and raise a little money; and there, instead of his iron, he saw a large pile of gold lying on the floor.At the sight of this he was overjoyed, and forgetting all about his son, went into trade again, and became a richer merchant than before.
Meantime little Heinel grew up, and as the end of the twelve years drew near the merchant began to call to mind his bond, and became very sad and thoughtful;so that care and sorrow were written upon his face.The boy one day asked what was the matter, but his father would not tell for some time; at last, however,he said that he had, without knowing it, sold him for gold to a little, ugly-looking, black dwarf, and that the twelve years were coming round when he must keep his word. Then Heinel said, \\u0027Father, give yourself very little trouble about that; I shall be too much for the little man.\\u0027
When the time came, the father and son went out together to the place agreed upon: and the son drew a circle on the ground, and set himself and his father in the middle of it. The little black dwarf soon came, and walked round and round about the circle, but could not find any way to get into it, and he either could not,or dared not, jump over it. At last the boy said to him.\\u0027Have you anything to say to us, my friend, or what do you want?\\u0027 Now Heinel had found a friend in a good fairy, that was fond of him, and had told him what to do; for this fairy knew what good luck was in store for him. \\u0027Have you brought me what you said you would?\\u0027 said the dwarf to the merchant. The old man held his tongue, but Heinel said again, \\u0027What do you want here?\\u0027 The dwarf said, \\u0027I come to talk with your father, not with you.\\u0027 \\u0027You have cheated and taken in my father,\\u0027 said the son; \\u0027pray give him up his bond at once.\\u0027 \\u0027Fair and softly,\\u0027 said the little old man; \\u0027right is right; I have paid my money, and your father has had it, and spent it; so be so good as to let me have what I paid it for.\\u0027 \\u0027You must have my consent to that first,\\u0027said Heinel, \\u0027so please to step in here, and let us talk it over.\\u0027 The old man grinned, and showed his teeth, as if he should have been very glad to get into the circle if he could. Then at last, after a long talk, they came to terms. Heinel agreed that his father must give him up, and that so far the dwarf should have his way:but, on the other hand, the fairy had told Heinel what fortune was in store for him, if he followed his own course; and he did not choose to be given up to his hump-backed friend, who seemed so anxious for his company.