_When one begins wishing, it is hard to know when he has enough._
In a little house near a great forest lived Ludwig and his sister,
Marleen. They were very poor. Ludwig had to go into his forest
every day to gather berries.
One day he heard a voice calling: “Help me out, little brother!
Help me out!” Looking around he saw a red fox whose foot was caught
in a trap. He opened the trap and found the fox’s foot badly hurt.
He wet his handkerchief in the spring and bound up the fox’s foot.
The grateful fox told him to make a wish and it would be granted.
So he wished that his pail might always be filled with berries,
and straightway his pail became full.
Running home he told Marleen of his good fortune. “You were a
foolish boy,” said Marleen. “That was no ordinary fox. I would that
our cupboard were always filled with food. Go tell the fox.”
“Be satisfied,” said Ludwig, “we are very happy as we are.” But she
gave him no peace until he went again to the forest. When the fox
saw him, he said:
“How now, little brother, is it not well with thee?”
“No,” said Ludwig, and he told the fox his sister’s wish. “Go! it
shall be as she wishes,” said the fox.
On Ludwig’s return home he found the wish come true. A few days
later Marleen said:
“I’m tired of just things to eat. I want a doll dressed in shining
silk. Go tell the red fox so.”
“Be satisfied,” said Ludwig, “we are happy as we are.” But she gave
him no peace until he went again to the fox, and again her wish
was granted. This satisfied Marleen only for a few days; then she
wanted a dress just like her doll’s, and again Ludwig had to go to
the fox. As before, her wish was granted and she was happy.
Then she wished that she might live in a fine house of many rooms.
Again Ludwig was persuaded to go to the fox. Again the fox granted
her wish. Upon returning home Ludwig found the little house gone
and in its place was a palace. After spending days roaming through
the house, Marleen wished to have one of every toy in the world to
play with, and insisted upon Ludwig going again to the fox. Again
the red fox said: “Go! it shall be as she wishes,” and it was so.
It took the children days to play a minute with each toy. Then
Marleen said:
“I’m tired of these toys. I want that ball that shines in the sky
at night to be my plaything. Go tell the fox so.” Ludwig went once
more to the fox who, when he heard her wish, said:
“Go! it shall NOT be as she wishes!” Ludwig frightened, ran from
the forest, and found Marleen sobbing upon the porch of their
little old home. They searched far and wide for their friend the
fox, but never saw him again.