Like many others in the world, there was a mother and her son. The
lad was as strong as fourteen men together, but he was also obliged
to eat as much as fourteen men. They were poor, and on that account
he often suffered from hunger. He said one day to his mother, that
it would be better for him to try and go somewhere else to see if he
could be any better off; that he could not bear it any longer like
this; that he was pained to see how much it cost her to feed him.
The mother with regret allows him to depart. He goes off then far,
far, far away, and comes to a large house. He asks if they want a
servant there, and they answer that they will speak to the master. The
master himself comes and says to him, "I employ experienced labourers
generally, but I will take you nevertheless."
The lad answers, "I must forewarn you, that I eat as much as fourteen
men, but I do work in proportion."