In a certain kingdom a soldier served in the mounted guard of the
king. He served twenty-five years in faithfulness and truth; and for
his good conduct the king gave orders to discharge him with honor, and
give him as reward the same horse on which he had ridden in the
regiment, with all the caparison.
The soldier took farewell of his comrades and set out for his native
place. He travelled a day, a second, and a third. Behold, a whole week
had gone; a second and third week! The soldier had no money; he had
nothing to eat himself, nothing to give his horse, and his home was
far, far away. He saw that the affair was a very bad one; he wanted
terribly to eat, began to look in one direction and another, and saw
on one side a great castle. "Well," thought he, "better go there;
maybe they will take me even for a time to serve,--I'll earn
something."
He turned to the castle, rode into the court, put his horse in the
stable, gave him hay, and entered the castle. In the castle a table
was set with food and wine,--with everything that the soul could wish
for.