The Devil's Sooty Brother facts for kids
The Devil's Sooty Brother is a German fairy tale. It was collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. They published it in their book Grimm's Fairy Tales in 1819. This story is about a soldier who makes a deal with a mysterious little man. It teaches lessons about honesty and cleverness.
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The Devil's Sooty Brother
This fairy tale tells the story of a soldier named Hans. He was let go from the army. Hans had no money and felt very sad. He walked through a forest, wondering what to do.
Hans Meets the Devil
While walking, Hans met a small man. Hans did not know it, but this man was the Devil in disguise. The little man asked Hans why he looked so sad. Hans explained he was hungry and had no money.
The Devil offered Hans a job. "Work for me for seven years," he said. "You will never need anything again. After seven years, you will be free." The Devil also promised to teach Hans beautiful music. But there was one strange rule. Hans must never wash, comb his hair, cut his hair or nails, or wipe his tears. Hans thought this was a good deal. He agreed and followed the little man. The man led him deep down into Hell.
Life in Hell
In Hell, the little man told Hans his duties. Hans had to keep the fires burning under large pots. He also had to keep the house clean. He needed to sweep all the dust behind the doors. Everything had to be tidy. But the Devil gave a strict warning. Hans must never look inside the pots. If he did, he would be sorry.
Hans replied, "I will follow your orders like a good soldier." The Devil then left the house. Hans started his new job. It was already very hot, but he lit the fires. He swept all the dust behind the door, just as he was told.
When the Devil returned, he checked Hans's work. He saw that Hans had followed his rules. The Devil was pleased and left again. Hans decided to explore Hell while the Devil was away. He saw the pots boiling with strong fires beneath them. He really wanted to peek inside. But the Devil had strictly forbidden it.
The Boiling Pots
However, Hans's curiosity grew too strong. He lifted the lid of the first pot. He peeked inside. To his surprise, he saw his old sergeant sitting in the boiling liquid! "Well, well," Hans said. "You used to be in charge of me. Now things are different!" He quickly put the lid back. Then he added more wood to the fire.
Next, he went to the second pot. He lifted the lid and looked in. There was his old captain! "Well, well," he said again. "You used to be in charge of me. Now things are different!" He put the lid back and added more wood.
His curiosity was still very strong. He moved to the third pot. He lifted the lid and peeked inside. This time, he saw his old general! "Well, well," Hans said. "You used to be in charge of me. Now things are different!" He put the lid back. He added more wood to the fire.
For seven years, Hans never washed or cut his hair or nails. He never wiped his tears. The seven years seemed to pass very quickly, like only six months. When his time was up, the Devil came back. "Hans," he asked, "how have you spent your time here?"
"I followed your orders perfectly," Hans replied. "I stoked the fires and swept the dust behind the doors."
"Ah," said the Devil. "But you also peeked inside the pots. You are lucky you stoked the fires and added wood. Otherwise, your life would have been mine! Your time is up. Do you want to go home?"
Freedom and Riches
"Yes," Hans replied. "I want to see my father." The Devil reminded Hans of his promise. "You will never need anything again," he said. "Fill your bag with all the dust you swept behind the doors. You must leave unwashed, with long hair and nails. Your eyes will be weak. If anyone asks where you came from, say 'From Hell.' If they ask who you are, say 'I am the Devil's sooty brother, and my king as well.'"
Hans did not complain about his payment, even though he was disappointed. When he was back in the forest, he opened his bag. He wanted to empty the heavy dust. But the dust had turned into gold! Hans was very happy with his riches. He went to a nearby town to find an inn.
The Innkeeper's Trick
The innkeeper saw Hans. He was terrified of the unwashed, messy man. He called out, "Where do you come from?"
"From Hell," Hans answered.
"And who are you?" asked the innkeeper.
"The Devil's sooty brother, and my king as well." The innkeeper refused to let him in. But when Hans showed him the gold, the innkeeper quickly opened the door. Hans ordered the best room. He ate and drank until he was full. He still did not wash or cut his hair or nails, just as the Devil had told him. He lay down to sleep.
Downstairs, the innkeeper could only think of the gold. While Hans slept, the innkeeper crept into his room. He stole the bag of gold.
When Hans woke up, he wanted to pay and leave. But his bag was gone! He left the inn and went back to Hell. He told the Devil what had happened. He begged for help. The Devil said, "Do not worry. Sit here. I will wash you, cut your hair and nails, and wipe your tears." After doing this, the Devil gave Hans another bag. It was full of dust from the sweepings. "Go back to the innkeeper," the Devil said. "Tell him to return your gold. If he doesn't, I will come from Hell and take him. He will poke the fire and sweep the floor in your place."
Hans returned to the inn. He told the innkeeper, "You stole my gold. If you do not return it, you will go to Hell. You will take my place. You will look unwashed and messy, just like I did." The innkeeper was terrified. He gave Hans back his gold, and even more than he had stolen. He begged Hans not to tell anyone. Hans left the inn a rich man. He would never need anything again. He bought a simple coat. This way, people would not know he had gold. He traveled the country, playing the beautiful music the Devil had taught him.
A King's Son-in-Law
In that country, there was an old king. He heard Hans's beautiful music. He had the soldier brought before him. The king loved Hans's music so much. He decided Hans would marry his oldest daughter. But she did not want to marry a common man in a simple coat. "I would rather drown myself," she said, "than marry such a man!"
So, the king gave his youngest daughter to Hans instead. She was happy to marry him because she loved her father. So, the Devil's sooty brother married the king's daughter. When the old king died, Hans became king. This happened just as the Devil had predicted.
