Faithful John by the Brothers Grimm

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Faithful John
by the Brothers Grimm


THERE was once upon a time an old king who was ill, and thought to himself, “I am lying on what must be my deathbed.” Then said he, “Tell Faithful John to come to me.” Faithful John was his favorite servant, and was so called, because he had for his whole life long been so true to him.

When therefore he came beside the bed, the King said to him, “Most faithful John, I feel my end approaching, and have no anxiety except about my son. He is still of tender age, and cannot always know how to guide himself. If thou dost not promise me to teach him everything that he ought to know, and to be his foster-father, I cannot close my eyes in peace.”

Then answered Faithful John, “I will not forsake him, and will serve him with fidelity, even if it should cost me my life.” On this, the old King said, “Now I die in comfort and peace.” Then he added, “After my death, thou shalt show him the whole castle: all the chambers, halls, and vaults, and all the treasures which lie therein, but the last chamber in the long gallery, in which is the picture of the princess of the Golden Dwelling, shalt thou not show. If he sees that picture, he will fall violently in love with her, and will drop down a in swoon, and go through great danger for her sake, therefore thou must preserve him from that.”

And when Faithful John had once more given his promise to the old King about this, the King said no more, but laid his head on his pillow, and died.

When the old King had been carried to his grave, Faithful John told the young King all that he had promised his father on his deathbed, and said, “This will I assuredly perform, and will be faithful to thee as I have been faithful to him, even if it should cost me my life.” When the mourning was over, Faithful John said to him: “It is now time that thou shouldst see thine inheritance. I will show thee thy father’s palace.”

Then he took him about everywhere, up and down, and let him see all the riches, and the magnificent apartments, only there was one room which he did not open, that in which hung the dangerous picture. The picture was, however, so placed that when the door was opened you looked straight on it, and it was so admirably painted that it seemed to breath and live, and there was nothing more charming or more beautiful in the whole world.

The young King, however, plainly remarked that Faithful John always walked past this one door, and said, “Why dost thou never open this one for me?” “There is something within it,” he replied, “which would terrify thee.”

But the King answered, “I have seen all the palace, and I will know what is in this room also,” and he went and tried to break open the door by force.

Then Faithful John held him back and said, “I promised thy father before his death that thou shouldst not see that which is in this chamber, it might bring the greatest misfortune on thee and on me.”

“Ah, no,” replied the young King, “if I do not go in, it will be my certain destruction. I should have no rest day or night until I had seen it with my own eyes. I shall not leave the place now until thou hast unlocked the door.”

Then Faithful John saw that there was no help for it now, and with a heavy heart and many sighs, sought out the key from the great bunch.

When he had opened the door, he went in first, and thought by standing before him he could hide the portrait so that the King should not see it in front of him, but what availed that?

The King stood on tip-toe and saw it over his shoulder. And when he saw the portrait of the maiden, which was so magnificent and shone with gold and precious stones, he fell fainting on the ground.

Faithful John took him up, carried him to his bed, and sorrowfully thought, “The misfortune has befallen us, Lord God, what will be the end of it?” Then he strengthened him with wine, until he came to himself again. The first words the King said, were, “Ah, the beautiful portrait! Whose is it?”

“That is the princess of the Golden Dwelling,” answered Faithful John. Then the King continued, “My love for her is so great, that if all the leaves on all the trees were tongues, they could not declare it. I will give my life to win her. Thou art my most Faithful John, thou must help me.”

The faithful servant considered within himself for a long time how to set about the matter, for it was difficult even to obtain a sight of the King’s daughter.

At length he thought of a way, and said to the King, “Everything which she has about her is of gold—tables, chairs, dishes, glasses, bowls, and household furniture. Among thy treasures are five tons of gold; let one of the goldsmiths of the kingdom work these up into all manner of vessels and utensils, into all kinds of birds, wild beasts and strange animals, such as may please her, and we will go there with them and try our luck.”

The King ordered all the goldsmiths to be brought to him, and they had to work night and day until at last the most splendid things were prepared. When everything was stowed on board a ship, Faithful John put on the dress of a merchant, and the King was forced to do the same in order to make himself quite unrecognizable. Then they sailed across the sea, and sailed on until they came to the town wherein dwelt the princess of the Golden Dwelling.

Faithful John bade the King stay behind on the ship, and wait for him. “Perhaps I shall bring the princess with me,” said he, “therefore see that everything is in order; have the golden vessels set out and the whole ship decorated.” Then he gathered together in his apron all kinds of gold things, went on shore and walked straight to the royal palace. When he entered the courtyard of the palace, a beautiful girl was standing there by the well with two golden buckets in her hand, drawing water with them. And when she was just turning round to carry away the sparkling water she saw the stranger, and asked who he was.

So he answered, “I am a merchant,” and opened his apron, and let her look in. Then she cried, “Oh, what beautiful gold things!” and put her pails down and looked at the golden wares one after the other. Then said the girl, “The princess must see these, she has such great pleasure in golden things, that she will buy all you have.”

She took him by the hand and led him upstairs, for she was the waiting-maid. When the King’s daughter saw the wares, she was quite delighted and said, “They are so beautifully worked, that I will buy them all of thee.” But Faithful John said, “I am only the servant of a rich merchant. The things I have here are not to be compared with those my master has in his ship. They are the most beautiful and valuable things that have ever been made in gold.” She wanted to have everything brought to her there, but he said, “There are so many of them that it would take a great many days to do that, and so many rooms would be required to exhibit them, that your house is not big enough.” Then her curiosity and longing were still more excited, until at last she said, “Conduct me to the ship, I will go there myself, and behold the treasures of thy master.”

On this Faithful John was quite delighted, and led her to the ship, and when the King saw her, he perceived that her beauty was even greater than the picture had represented it to be, and thought no other than that his heart would burst in twain.

Then she got into the ship, and the King led her within. Faithful John, however, remained behind with the pilot, and ordered the ship to be pushed off, saying, “Set all sail, till it fly like a bird in air.” Within, however, the King showed her the golden vessels, every one of them, also the wild beasts and strange animals. Many hours went by whilst she was seeing everything, and in her delight she did not observe that the ship was sailing away. After she had looked at the last, she thanked the merchant and wanted to go home, but when she came to the side of the ship, she saw that it was on the deep sea far from land, and hurrying onwards with all sail set. “Ah,” cried she in her alarm, “I am betrayed! I am carried away and have fallen into the power of a merchant—I would die rather!”

The King, however, seized her hand, and said, “I am not a merchant. I am a king, and of no meaner origin than thou art, and if I have carried thee away with subtlety, that has come to pass because of my exceeding great love for thee. The first time that I looked on thy portrait, I fell fainting to the ground.”

When the princess of the Golden Dwelling heard that, she was comforted, and her heart was inclined unto him, so that she willingly consented to be his wife.

It happened, however, while they were sailing onwards over the deep sea, that Faithful John, who was sitting on the fore part of the vessel, making music, saw three ravens in the air, which came flying towards them. On this he stopped playing and listened to what they were saying to each other, for that he well understood. One cried, “Oh there he is carrying home the princess of the Golden Dwelling.” “Yes,” replied the second, “but he has not got her yet.” Said the third, “But he has got her, she is sitting beside him in the ship.”

Then the first began again, and cried, “What good will that do him? When they reach land a chestnut horse will leap forward to meet him, and the prince will want to mount it, but if he does that, it will run away with him, and rise up into the air with him, and he will never see his maiden more.” Spake the second, “But is there no escape?”

“Oh, yes, if anyone else gets on it swiftly, and takes out the pistol, which must be in its holster, and shoots the horse dead with it, the young King is saved. But who knows that? And whosoever does know it, and tells it to him, will be turned to stone from the toe to the knee.” Then said the second, “I know more than that; even if the horse be killed, the young King will still not keep his bride. When they go into the castle together, a wrought bridal garment will be lying there in a dish, and looking as if it were woven of gold and silver; it is, however, nothing but sulphur and pitch, and if he put it on, it will burn him to the very bone and marrow.” Said the third, “Is there no escape at all?”

“Oh, yes,” replied the second, “if anyone with gloves on seizes the garment and throws it into the fire and burns it, the young King will be saved. But what avails that? Whosoever knows it and tells it to him, half his body will become stone from the knee to the heart.”

Then said the third, “I know still more; even if the bridal garment be burnt, the young King will still not have his bride. After the wedding, when the dancing begins and the young Queen is dancing, she will suddenly turn pale and fall down as if dead, and if someone does not lift her up and draw three drops of blood from her right breast and spit them out again, she will die. But if anyone who knows that were to declare it, he would become stone from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot.”

When the ravens had spoken of this together they flew onwards, and Faithful John had well understood everything but from that time forth he became quiet and sad, for if he concealed what he had heard from his master, the latter would be unfortunate, and if he discovered it to him, he himself must sacrifice his life. At length, however, he said to himself, “I will save my master, even if it bring destruction on myself.”

When therefore they came to shore, all happened as had been foretold by the ravens, and a magnificent chestnut horse sprang forward. “Good,” said the King, “he shall carry me to my palace,” and was about to mount it when Faithful John got before him, jumped quickly on it, drew the pistol out of the holster, and shot the horse.

Then the other attendants of the King, who after all were not very fond of Faithful John, cried, “How shameful to kill the beautiful animal, that was to have carried the King to his palace!”

But the King said, “Hold your peace and leave him alone, he is my most faithful John, who knows what may be the good of that!” They went into the palace, and in the hall there stood a dish, and therein lay the bridal garment looking no otherwise than as if it were made of gold and silver. The young King went towards it and was about to take hold of it, but Faithful John pushed him away, seized it with gloves on, carried it quickly to the fire and burnt it.

The other attendants again began to murmur, and said, “Behold, now he is even burning the King’s bridal garment!” But the young King said, “Who knows what good he may have done, leave him alone, he is my most faithful John.”

And now the wedding was solemnized: the dance began, and the bride also took part in it; then Faithful John was watchful and looked into her face, and suddenly she turned pale and fell to the ground as if she were dead. On this he ran hastily to her, lifted her up and bore her into a chamber—then he laid her down, and knelt and sucked the three drops of blood from her right breast, and spat them out. Immediately she breathed again and recovered herself, but the young King had seen this, and being ignorant why Faithful John had done it, was angry and cried, “Throw him into a dungeon.”

Next morning Faithful John was condemned, and led to the gallows, and when he stood on high, and was about to be executed, he said, “Everyone who has to die is permitted before his end to make one last speech; may I too claim the right?” “Yes,” answered the King, “it shall be granted unto thee.” Then said Faithful John, “I am unjustly condemned, and have always been true to thee,” and related how he had hearkened to the conversation of the ravens when on the sea, and how he had been obliged to do all these things in order to save his master. Then cried the King, “Oh, my most Faithful John. Pardon, pardon—bring him down.” But as Faithful John spoke the last word he had fallen down lifeless and become a stone.

Thereupon the King and Queen suffered great anguish and the King said, “Ah, how ill I have requited great fidelity!” and ordered the stone figure to be taken up and placed in his bedroom beside his bed. And as often as he looked on it he wept and said, “Ah, if I could bring thee to life again, my most Faithful John.” Some time passed and the Queen bore twins, two sons who grew fast and were her delight.

Once when the Queen was at church and the two children were sitting playing beside their father, the latter full of grief again looked at the stone figure, sighed and said, “Ah, if I could but bring thee to life again, my most Faithful John.”

Then the stone began to speak and said, “Thou canst bring me to life again if thou wilt use for that purpose what is dearest to thee,” Then cried the King, “I will give everything I have in the world for thee.” The stone continued, “If thou wilt cut off the heads of thy two children with thine own hand, and sprinkle me with their blood, I shall be restored to life.”

The King was terrified when he heard that he himself must kill his dearest children, but he thought of Faithful John’s great fidelity, and how he had died for him, drew his sword, and with his own hand cut off the children’s heads. And when he had smeared the stone with their blood, life returned to it, and Faithful John stood once more safe and healthy before him.

He said to the King, “Thy truth shall not go unrewarded,” and took the heads of the children, put them on again, and rubbed the wounds with their blood, on which they became whole again immediately, and jumped about, and went on playing as if nothing had happened.

Then the King was full of joy, and when he saw the Queen coming he hid Faithful John and the two children in a great cupboard. When she entered, he said to her, “Hast thou been praying in the church?”

“Yes,” answered she, “but I have constantly been thinking of Faithful John and what misfortune has befallen him through us.” Then said he, “Dear wife, we can give him his life again, but it will cost us our two little sons, whom we must sacrifice.” The Queen turned pale, and her heart was full of terror, but she said, “We owe it to him, for his great fidelity.” Then the King was rejoiced that she thought as he had thought, and went and opened the cupboard, and brought forth Faithful John and the children, and said, “God be praised, he is delivered, and we have our little sons again also,” and told her how everything had occurred. Then they dwelt together in much happiness until their death.

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Same But Different by MT Noggin

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That melodic tune must mean it’s time for another episode of philosophy by Markus Tenacious Noggin.

I've descended from a long line of prestigious Noggins, and my momma said I was resolutely tough. Maybe that's why she named me Markus Tenacious Noggin.

Mr. MT Noggin at yer service.



Same but Different

I shouldn't get so upset, but it seems to me we are all just a bunch of fools. High-falutin' advertizin' has fooled me before, and I just wanted to share today some of the things I've learned as I've been fooled outta more money than I’ve ever made.

Now I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I am smart enough to read the labels on packages, as I so ably demonstrated with those deceptive Girl Scout cookies.

But most of us are content to pop those pills from the pharmacy without a second thought. But you may want to start readin' then labels, since you are being hogswaggled everytime you buy them headache pills.

I can't mention the name of this famous migraine and headache medication, but suffice it to say it's probly one of the best sellin' on the market.

But if you take the time to git one package of the extra-strength and hold it next to the migraine package, you are gonna find out somethin' amazin'.

Two different products, right?

Two different labels, marked for different purposes, right?

Then will someone please explain to me why these two different products made by the same company have the exact same ingredients?

That's right. Look close at those labels, and you'll see they are the exact same formulation, down to the extry caffeinne.

Talk about a placebo effect. We buy something we think is gonna help us, and because we believe it is gonna help us, it does.

And don't forgit that caffeine. These little pills have got more git up and go than a can of Coca-cola. Each.

Let's examine these labels a little closer. Each pill contains 65 milligrams of caffeine, which is the same as a 12 ounce caffeinated soda.

I really like the kick when I drink a Coke and take a couple of headachy pills with the extra caffeinne. I feel like I could climb Mr. Everest.

So, not that I'm complainin', but it is funny to me that we don't really pay all that much attention to what we eat and drink.

And don't git me started about the fat content in most of the food, and the fact that most of the food we eat has something called maltodextrine.

I don't know what it is, but anything with the word malt in it is okay by me. Put in an extra scoop for me, cause there ain't nothin' I like better than a tall, ice-cream malt shake. Especially if'n it contains bananaers and chocolate.

But enough about my expandin' waist. They say an adult is someone who has stopped growing up and down, but not sideways.

Here's one to check out. You may like that tall glass o' chocolate milk, but you might want to check first to see if it contains carrageenan.

Accordin' to an internet article on the Learnin' Channel, this popular food thickener is considered a gum.

That's okay so far. I like gum. And thickenin' food up ain't no sin in my book.

But what you may not know is this particular food comes from the Atlantic Ocean. Still okay in my book.

Take some of this delicious food, boil it a bit, and that thickenin' agent we've been talking about appears. It is natural, and it is in a lot of foods we are eatin', and not just in that chocolate milk.

Ready for the big surprise? Did you guess what carageenan is? It's a food thickenin' agent made outta seaweed.

That's right. Seaweed. Extracted and plopped into somethin' you probably ate today.

I never thought I'd be eatin' seaweed. I mean, I ain't got nothin' against eatin' seaweed if you want to eat it, but I don't know how I feel about it bein' sneaked into my food.

Maybe it's better if I quit readin' those packages. I think I know what milk sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, and milk fat are, but I don't think I want a short course on why my Hershey's Chocolate Bar has alkali, lactose, soy lecithin, pgpr, vanillin and artificial flavor.

I might find out pgpr and the artificial flavor is what I like best about my favorite candy bar.

And don't get me started about why it costs so much more today than when I was a young pup.



Mares eat oats

And does eat oats

And little lambs eat ivy

A kid’ll eat ivy too

Wouldn’t you?



Jist remember, you heard it here first from Mr. MT Noggin.

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Go to Simple Helix for the best web hosting!!

Listen to live episodes of “Abundance” every Sunday night
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Click here to subscribe for 99 cents a month -- first week FREE!!
Keep this website funded by donating today!!

Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm

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Hansel and Gretel

by the Brothers Grimm


Next to a great forest there lived a poor woodcutter with his wife and his two children. The boy's name was Hansel and the girl's name was Gretel. He had but little to eat, and once, when a great famine came to the land, he could no longer provide even their daily bread.

One evening as he was lying in bed worrying about his problems, he sighed and said to his wife, "What is to become of us? How can we feed our children when we have nothing for ourselves?"

"Man, do you know what?" answered the woman. "Early tomorrow morning we will take the two children out into the thickest part of the woods, make a fire for them, and give each of them a little piece of bread, then leave them by themselves and go off to our work. They will not find their way back home, and we will be rid of them."

"No, woman," said the man. "I will not do that. How could I bring myself to abandon my own children alone in the woods? Wild animals would soon come and tear them to pieces."

"Oh, you fool," she said, "then all four of us will starve. All you can do is to plane the boards for our coffins." And she gave him no peace until he agreed.

"But I do feel sorry for the poor children," said the man.

The two children had not been able to fall asleep because of their hunger, and they heard what the stepmother had said to the father.

Gretel cried bitter tears and said to Hansel, "It is over with us!"

"Be quiet, Gretel," said Hansel, "and don't worry. I know what to do."

And as soon as the adults had fallen asleep, he got up, pulled on his jacket, opened the lower door, and crept outside. The moon was shining brightly, and the white pebbles in front of the house were glistening like silver coins. Hansel bent over and filled his jacket pockets with them, as many as would fit.

Then he went back into the house and said, "Don't worry, Gretel. Sleep well. God will not forsake us." Then he went back to bed.

At daybreak, even before sunrise, the woman came and woke the two children. "Get up, you lazybones. We are going into the woods to fetch wood." Then she gave each one a little piece of bread, saying, "Here is something for midday. Don't eat it any sooner, for you'll not get any more."

Gretel put the bread under her apron, because Hansel's pockets were full of stones. Then all together they set forth into the woods. After they had walked a little way, Hansel began stopping again and again and looking back toward the house.

The father said, "Hansel, why are you stopping and looking back? Pay attention now, and don't forget your legs."

"Oh, father," said Hansel, "I am looking at my white cat that is sitting on the roof and wants to say good-bye to me."

The woman said, "You fool, that isn't your cat. That's the morning sun shining on the chimney."

However, Hansel had not been looking at his cat but instead had been dropping the shiny pebbles from his pocket onto the path.

When they arrived in the middle of the woods, the father said, "You children gather some wood, and I will make a fire so you won't freeze."

Hansel and Gretel gathered together some twigs, a pile as high as a small mountain

The twigs were set afire, and when the flames were burning well, the woman said, "Lie down by the fire and rest. We will go into the woods to cut wood. When we are finished, we will come back and get you."

Hansel and Gretel sat by the fire. When midday came each one ate his little piece of bread. Because they could hear the blows of an ax, they thought that the father was nearby. However, it was not an ax. It was a branch that he had tied to a dead tree and that the wind was beating back and forth. After they had sat there a long time, their eyes grew weary and closed, and they fell sound sleep.

When they finally awoke, it was dark at night. Gretel began to cry and said, "How will we get out of woods?"

Hansel comforted her, "Wait a little until the moon comes up, and then we'll find the way."

After the full moon had come up, Hansel took his little sister by the hand. They followed the pebbles that glistened there like newly minted coins, showing them the way. They walked throughout the entire night, and as morning was breaking, they arrived at the father's house.

They knocked on the door, and when the woman opened it and saw that it was Hansel and Gretel, she said, "You wicked children, why did you sleep so long in the woods? We thought that you did not want to come back."

But the father was overjoyed when he saw his children once more, for he had not wanted to leave them alone.

Not long afterward there was once again great need everywhere, and one evening the children heard the mother say to the father, "We have again eaten up everything. We have only a half loaf of bread, and then the song will be over. We must get rid of the children. We will take them deeper into the woods, so they will not find their way out. Otherwise there will be no help for us."

The man was very disheartened, and he thought, "It would be better to share the last bit with the children."

But the woman would not listen to him, scolded him, and criticized him. He who says A must also say B, and because he had given in the first time, he had to do so the second time as well.

The children were still awake and had overheard the conversation. When the adults were asleep, Hansel got up again and wanted to gather pebbles as he had done before, but the woman had locked the door, and Hansel could not get out. But he comforted his little sister and said, "Don't cry, Gretel. Sleep well. God will help us."

Early the next morning the woman came and got the children from their beds. They received their little pieces of bread, even less than the last time. On the way to the woods, Hansel crumbled his piece in his pocket, then often stood still, and threw crumbs onto the ground.

"Hansel, why are you always stopping and looking around?" said his father. "Keep walking straight ahead."

"I can see my pigeon sitting on the roof. It wants to say good-bye to me."

"Fool," said the woman, "that isn't your pigeon. That's the morning sun shining on the chimney."

But little by little Hansel dropped all the crumbs onto the path. The woman took them deeper into the woods than they had ever been in their whole lifetime.

Once again a large fire was made, and the mother said, "Sit here, children. If you get tired you can sleep a little. We are going into the woods to cut wood. We will come and get you in the evening when we are finished."

When it was midday Gretel shared her bread with Hansel, who had scattered his piece along the path. Then they fell asleep, and evening passed, but no one came to get the poor children.

It was dark at night when they awoke, and Hansel comforted Gretel and said, "Wait, when the moon comes up I will be able to see the crumbs of bread that I scattered, and they will show us the way back home."

When the moon appeared they got up, but they could not find any crumbs, for the many thousands of birds that fly about in the woods and in the fields had pecked them up.

Hansel said to Gretel, "We will find our way," but they did not find it.

They walked through the entire night and the next day from morning until evening, but they did not find their way out of the woods. They were terribly hungry, for they had eaten only a few small berries that were growing on the ground. And because they were so tired that their legs would no longer carry them, they lay down under a tree and fell asleep. It was already the third morning since they had left the father's house. They started walking again, but managed only to go deeper and deeper into the woods. If help did not come soon, they would perish. At midday they saw a little snow-white bird sitting on a branch. It sang so beautifully that they stopped to listen. When it was finished it stretched its wings and flew in front of them. They followed it until they came to a little house. The bird sat on the roof, and when they came closer, they saw that the little house was built entirely from bread with a roof made of cake, and the windows were made of clear sugar.

"Let's help ourselves to a good meal," said Hansel. "I'll eat a piece of the roof, and Gretel, you eat from the window. That will be sweet."

Hansel reached up and broke off a little of the roof to see how it tasted, while Gretel stood next to the windowpanes and was nibbling at them. Then a gentle voice called out from inside:

Nibble, nibble, little mouse, Who is nibbling at my house?


The children answered:

The wind, the wind, The heavenly child.


They continued to eat, without being distracted. Hansel, who very much liked the taste of the roof, tore down another large piece, and Gretel poked out an entire round windowpane. Suddenly the door opened, and a woman, as old as the hills and leaning on a crutch, came creeping out. Hansel and Gretel were so frightened that they dropped what they were holding in their hands.

But the old woman shook her head and said, "Oh, you dear children, who brought you here? Just come in and stay with me. No harm will come to you."

She took them by the hand and led them into her house. Then she served them a good meal: milk and pancakes with sugar, apples, and nuts. Afterward she made two nice beds for them, decked in white. Hansel and Gretel went to bed, thinking they were in heaven. But the old woman had only pretended to be friendly. She was a wicked witch who was lying in wait there for children. She had built her house of bread only in order to lure them to her, and if she captured one, she would kill him, cook him, and eat him; and for her that was a day to celebrate.

Witches have red eyes and cannot see very far, but they have a sense of smell like animals, and know when humans are approaching.

When Hansel and Gretel came near to her, she laughed wickedly and spoke scornfully, "Now I have them. They will not get away from me again."

Early the next morning, before they awoke, she got up, went to their beds, and looked at the two of them lying there so peacefully, with their full red cheeks. "They will be a good mouthful," she mumbled to herself. Then she grabbed Hansel with her withered hand and carried him to a little stall, where she locked him behind a cage door. Cry as he might, there was no help for him.

Then she shook Gretel and cried, "Get up, lazybones! Fetch water and cook something good for your brother. He is locked outside in the stall and is to be fattened up. When he is fat I am going to eat him."

Gretel began to cry, but it was all for nothing. She had to do what the witch demanded. Now Hansel was given the best things to eat every day, but Gretel received nothing but crayfish shells.

Every morning the old woman crept out to the stall and shouted, "Hansel, stick out your finger, so I can feel if you are fat yet."

But Hansel stuck out a little bone, and the old woman, who had bad eyes and could not see the bone, thought it was Hansel's finger, and she wondered why he didn't get fat.

When four weeks had passed and Hansel was still thin, impatience overcame her, and she would wait no longer. "Hey, Gretel!" she shouted to the girl, "Hurry up and fetch some water. Whether Hansel is fat or thin, tomorrow I am going to slaughter him and boil him."

Oh, how the poor little sister sobbed as she was forced to carry the water, and how the tears streamed down her cheeks! "Dear God, please help us," she cried. "If only the wild animals had devoured us in the woods, then we would have died together."

"Save your slobbering," said the old woman. "It doesn't help you at all."

The next morning Gretel had to get up early, hang up the kettle with water, and make a fire.

"First we are going to bake," said the old woman. "I have already made a fire in the oven and kneaded the dough."

She pushed poor Gretel outside to the oven, from which fiery flames were leaping. "Climb in," said the witch, "and see if it is hot enough to put the bread in yet." And when Gretel was inside, she intended to close the oven, and bake her, and eat her as well.

But Gretel saw what she had in mind, so she said, "I don't know how to do that. How can I get inside?"

"Stupid goose," said the old woman. The opening is big enough. See, I myself could get in." And she crawled up stuck her head into the oven.

Then Gretel gave her a shove, causing her to fall in. Then she closed the iron door and secured it with a bar. The old woman began to howl frightfully. But Gretel ran away, and the godless witch burned up miserably. Gretel ran straight to Hansel, unlocked his stall, and cried, "Hansel, we are saved. The old witch is dead."

Then Hansel jumped out, like a bird from its cage when someone opens its door. How happy they were! They threw their arms around each other's necks, jumped with joy, and kissed one another. Because they now had nothing to fear, they went into the witch's house. In every corner were chests of pearls and precious stones.

"These are better than pebbles," said Hansel, filling his pockets.

Gretel said, "I will take some home with me as well," and she filled her apron full.

"But now we must leave," said Hansel, "and get out of these witch-woods."

After walking a few hours they arrived at a large body of water. "We cannot get across," said Hansel. "I cannot see a walkway or a bridge."

"There are no boats here," answered Gretel, "but there is a white duck swimming. If I ask it, it will help us across."

Then she called out:

Duckling, duckling, Here stand Gretel and Hansel. Neither a walkway nor a bridge, Take us onto your white back.


The duckling came up to them, and Hansel climbed onto it, then asked his little sister to sit down next to him.

"No," answered Gretel. "That would be too heavy for the duckling. It should take us across one at a time."

That is what the good animal did, and when they were safely on the other side, and had walked a little while, the woods grew more and more familiar to them, and finally they saw the father's house in the distance. They began to run, rushed inside, and threw their arms around the father's neck.

The man had not had even one happy hour since he had left the children in the woods. However, the woman had died. Gretel shook out her apron, scattering pearls and precious stones around the room, and Hansel added to them by throwing one handful after the other from his pockets.

Now all their cares were at an end, and they lived happily together.



My tale is done, A mouse has run.


And whoever catches it can make for himself from it a large, large fur cap.

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Sprung by Dane Allred

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Sprung
by Dane Allred

Another useless wasted day
That makes me pound my fist and say
This wasted twenty-four hour span,
After my careful, detailed plan.

I whiled away the precious time
Playing with those plants of mine
Weeding here and planting there,
Cleaning up stuff everywhere.

Wondering why I can't hire
Someone to work and perspire
Instead of me toiling away
I'd rather go somewhere and play.

But wait, look at that spiffy yard.
By which mess is no longer marred.
A wasted day? There's no such thing
Especially as I welcome spring.

Spring has been sprung.

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The Illusion of One

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The Illusion of One

I feel apart from you.

You probably feel you are spinning through space alone.

Even in the midst of six billion other people,
Most of us feel we are alone.

The illusion of being apart is on purpose.

We decided to come here to be by ourselves.

After an eternity before this life spent with everyone who every is, was or will be,
After knowing everything there was to be known,
And sharing our ideas, thoughts, feelings and inspiration
With everyone.

Then we realized there was more to know.


We discovered there was a way to learn more,
To be more,
To truly explore what it means to be one,
By coming here alone.

We decided to leave the place where everyone knew
Everyone else, and there were no strangers.

We knew we could learn more apart, even though we are all still connected by that same, safe, Bright Space.

I'll be going back there someday, to reveal all I have learned.

You'll go back there someday, too, so we can all enjoy the things you've learned on your journey.

As this universe experiences itself in the unique way only you can experience,
The knowledge grows.
The insight grows.

We will find out all there is to know, and then perhaps
We may be at peace.

Until then, we spin in our own orbit,
Supposing we are separate.
Thinking we have never met that person we see on the street.

Thinking we are strangers walking among other strangers, never realizing we have all met before.
Not just the people in our neighborhood.
Or our friends.

But we have met every person who lives now,
Who has ever lived
Or who will ever live.

We spent an eternity together before this day.

We will spend an eternity together after this life.

What a great reunion awaits us,

The illusion of being separate will vanish
As we recognize each other again.

We will wonder how we walked alone
When our friends walked all around us.

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Cookie Conspiracy by MT Noggin

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That melodic tune must mean it’s time for another episode of philosophy by Markus Tenacious Noggin.


"Mark my word", said my momma.
"That boy has one long-stickin' unsightliness."
That might be why she named me Markus Tenacious Noggin.
MT Noggin at yer service.





Cookie Conspiracy



It's a mystery to me why this country allows such a blatant disregard for American health. Tiny bands of little terrorists marching around making the citizens of the United States dangerously obese.

The number one killer in the US of A is heart disease, also caused by those little monsters in official uniforms, as they spread this deadly contagion from sea to shining sea.

You may have already be a victim of this pernicious plot, and in fact, this serious threat to our way of life is so engrained in our American culture that you may be considered unpatriotic if you are not participating.

MT, you may be sayin', what are you goin' on about now? Communism is dead, well, except in China, and North Korea, and Venezuela, and except in Cuba. But that Soviet Union threat, that has definitely been eradicated. Sorta. Until you look real close at Putin.

But the threat I'm talkin' about comes from our very own. not from another country, but from our own flesh and blood.

What's up my craw, you may be askin'? Well, the next time you get yerself one of those thin mints in between your teeth, you may want to stop and think.

Why are the Girl Scouts of America bent on the destruction of this great country? You know you've been eatin' those Samoans, those Tagalongs, and those tasty, tasty Thin Mints.

Well, hold on to yer hats, 'cause after a thorough investigation, I am sad to report today that the Girls Scouts are trying to kill us. I read through those mandatory statements now included on every box, those messages to us about how destructive what we eat really is.

Did you know four Thin Mints is twenty-five percent of yer daily requirement of fat? That means you can depend on yer complete fat intake for the day if you eat sixteen of them. And did you know there are thirty or so in a box?

Now admit it. You have eaten a whole box of thin mints in one sitting. I'm man enough to admit I've done it. Now, it wasn't the proudest moment in my life, but that very day I ate enough fat from one box to meet my daily fat intake for two days. Good with a tall glass of milk.

But I digress. When these little uniformed menaces to our country knock on your door, there is no way any real American can say no without being suspect.

What do you mean you don't support the Girl Scouts? Well then, you probably don't like apple pie, which I will admit I'm not supposed to eat. Yer probably one of those people who hate the American flag, and throw it away in the trash every time it's printed in yer newspaper.

You probably even hate yer mother. But that's something you should probably discuss with a certified mental health provider.

What I'm yakkin' on about is those deadly little round treats peddled to the entire USA, with the sole intent of gettin' us fat and happy so we relax until it's too late.

I guess there is one thing to be grateful about. This national tragedy happens only once a year. One time every spring the collective nation puts on four or five pounds a piece, which realistically should put the earth out of balance and cause the world to explode.

But that's a topic for another program.

What are we going to do about it? Eat fewer cookies? Turn away the Girl Scouts? I don’t think so, but do I have good news.

Facing criticism from fat critics, the Girl Scouts have developed a lower fat cookie for those unable to resist.

These new lemon delicacies should help those truly addicted to cut back in reasonable amounts. Like down to a box a day.

The other good news is eventually they are all eaten, and you don't have to fret no more. Stay strong though the rest of March, and the worst of it should be over.

Or you could eat the lemon cookies.

Course, I won't be eatin' them. They look like cardboard.

Now pass me one of them peanut butter chocolate missiles of death.

Next week, I be rantin' and ravin' about all the time I wasted in my youth watchin' TV, when I could have waited until now to watch "Leave it to Beaver"on Hulu.

Either that or why it gives me such great satisfaction to hear another radio station playing the top forty by Casey Kasum from some random year in the seventies.

Now that's some good music.



Mares eat oats

And does eat oats

And little lambs eat ivy

A kid’ll eat ivy too

Wouldn’t you?



Jist remember, you heard it here first from MT Noggin.

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Listen to live episodes of “Abundance” every Sunday night
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Click on the player below to hear the audio version of this piece.

That melodic tune must mean it’s time for another episode of philosophy by Markus Tenacious Noggin.
"Mark my word", said my momma."That boy has one long-stickin' unsightliness."
That might be why she named me Markus Tenacious Noggin.
MT Noggin at yer service.


Cookie Conspiracy

It's a mystery to me why this country allows such a blatant disregard for American health. Tiny bands of little terrorists marching around making the citizens of the United States dangerously obese.
The number one killer in the US of A is heart disease, also caused by those little monsters in official uniforms, as they spread this deadly contagion from sea to shining sea.
You may have already be a victim of this pernicious plot, and in fact, this serious threat to our way of life is so engrained in our American culture that you may be considered unpatriotic if you are not participating.
MT, you may be sayin', what are you goin' on about now? Communism is dead, well, except in China, and North Korea, and Venezuela, and except in Cuba. But that Soviet Union threat, that has definitely been eradicated. Sorta. Until you look real close at Putin.
But the threat I'm talkin' about comes from our very own. not from another country, but from our own flesh and blood.
What's up my craw, you may be askin'? Well, the next time you get yerself one of those thin mints in between your teeth, you may want to stop and think.
Why are the Girl Scouts of America bent on the destruction of this great country? You know you've been eatin' those Samoans, those Tagalongs, and those tasty, tasty Thin Mints.
Well, hold on to yer hats, 'cause after a thorough investigation, I am sad to report today that the Girls Scouts are trying to kill us. I read through those mandatory statements now included on every box, those messages to us about how destructive what we eat really is.
Did you know four Thin Mints is twenty-five percent of yer daily requirement of fat? That means you can depend on yer complete fat intake for the day if you eat sixteen of them. And did you know there are thirty or so in a box?
Now admit it. You have eaten a whole box of thin mints in one sitting. I'm man enough to admit I've done it. Now, it wasn't the proudest moment in my life, but that very day I ate enough fat from one box to meet my daily fat intake for two days. Good with a tall glass of milk.
But I digress. When these little uniformed menaces to our country knock on your door, there is no way any real American can say no without being suspect.
What do you mean you don't support the Girl Scouts? Well then, you probably don't like apple pie, which I will admit I'm not supposed to eat. Yer probably one of those people who hate the American flag, and throw it away in the trash every time it's printed in yer newspaper.
You probably even hate yer mother. But that's something you should probably discuss with a certified mental health provider.
What I'm yakkin' on about is those deadly little round treats peddled to the entire USA, with the sole intent of gettin' us fat and happy so we relax until it's too late.
I guess there is one thing to be grateful about. This national tragedy happens only once a year. One time every spring the collective nation puts on four or five pounds a piece, which realistically should put the earth out of balance and cause the world to explode.
But that's a topic for another program.
What are we going to do about it? Eat fewer cookies? Turn away the Girl Scouts? I don’t think so, but do I have good news.
Facing criticism from fat critics, the Girl Scouts have developed a lower fat cookie for those unable to resist.
These new lemon delicacies should help those truly addicted to cut back in reasonable amounts. Like down to a box a day.
The other good news is eventually they are all eaten, and you don't have to fret no more. Stay strong though the rest of March, and the worst of it should be over.
Or you could eat the lemon cookies.
Course, I won't be eatin' them. They look like cardboard.
Now pass me one of them peanut butter chocolate missiles of death.
Next week, I be rantin' and ravin' about all the time I wasted in my youth watchin' TV, when I could have waited until now to watch "Leave it to Beaver"on Hulu.
Either that or why it gives me such great satisfaction to hear another radio station playing the top forty by Casey Kasum from some random year in the seventies.
Now that's some good music.

Mares eat oats
And does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy
A kid’ll eat ivy too
Wouldn’t you?

Jist remember, you heard it here first from MT Noggin.

Abundance -- now an app at the Android Store!! -- click here to download.

Go to Simple Helix for the best web hosting!!

Listen to live episodes of “Abundance” every Sunday night
on K-talk radio at 7 PM MST (9 PM EST, 6 PM PST)

Subscription through Paypal
Click here to subscribe for 99 cents a month -- first week FREE!!
Keep this website funded by donating today!!

Abundance March 4

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Slap Up Side of the Head by Dane Allred

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Slap Up Side Of The Head
by Dane Allred

What's making you so sad?
That feeling something bad
Is creeping round the bend
About to make an end
Of all those happy times?

Time to get ready for
That slap up side your head.
That wakeup call that
Wakes you up and
Reminds you you're not dead.

That gentle slap
That cursed snap
That makes you reel
And makes you feel
It's time to get to work!

That slap can snap you back in shape
A slap up side the head can wake
You up to what you have to do.
So take that slap and grab your cape
This day is yours to make or break
Don't let it get the best of you.

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Together Again by Dane Allred

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Bright Space
by Dane Allred

Together Again
I am a stranger here.
Here to observe,
To Learn,
To live.

You may feel like a stranger here, too.

We are the outsiders,
Here from another place.

We were together before this time,
In the bright space.

We travel in this new place,
Unknown to each other,
Struggling in a strange new place
Waiting to make that connection
With someone we knew before.

But the best news is we knew everyone before.
Everyone who has ever lived,
Everyone who lives now,
And everyone who will ever live.

In the Bright Space,
We waited for the opportunity to be more
To do more,
To find out all there is to know,
As this universe experiences itself
Through you and through me.

When we are done with what we can learn here,
We will be together again,
And share all that we have learned.

There is such diversity in our world.
An incredible variety of things, places,
People, and other creatures to be experienced.
One of us could not do a part of it in our lifetime.

In such a world of abundance and wonder
There are so many things to do and find.
But in the rush to do,
We must also be.
We must be there for others
Who are waiting for that helping hand from us.
Who are waiting for that spark from us
That completes the circle
From when we first met,
To today, when we meet again.

Be the bright space.
Be present for that next time
Our paths cross.

Not for the first time,
And certainly not for the last time.

Be conscious of those around us
Not walking with our eyes closed,
Unconscious of others moving through the same space as you and I.

We knew each other before.
We know each other still.
We only need to reach out and make that
Reconnection.

You know that feeling.
You've met before.
You are only meeting again.

Now, there are no strangers here.
We are together once again.

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Road Rage and Restaurant Rage

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That melodic tune must mean it’s time for another episode of philosophy by Markus Tenacious Noggin.

I'm like a bulldog; I won't let go. That might be why my mamma named me Markus Tenacious Noggin.

MT Noggin at yer service.


Road Rage and Restaurant Rage


I appreciate the road workers keepin' me up to date. There's always a sign here and there that says "Road Work Ahead". I like to know that the road works, but I don't know if I need so many signs tellin' me. It seems like a waste of tax payer money, usually, the roads don't work so well every time I see one of those "Road Work Ahead" signs.

I do have a bit of the arthuritis, and it seems like these same shovel crews are worried about me checkin' that my shoulder works. I don't know if I need a sign tellin' me check my shoulder. Shoulder work ahead? Whose business is that?

And even though I am a good God fearin' Christian man, I think there is a line that needs to be drawn between church and state. I have recently become aware of the road crews promotin' Christianity, and you know it's only a matter of time before one of these other religions complains, and then those signs are going to have to come down. You've seen those signs I'm talkin' about; "Look up and live."

It's just another promotion of religion, and like I said, I am a Sundy go to meeting kind of guy but "Look up and live?" It's just gonna cause problems, or you can't call me MT Noggin.

Those asphalt jockeys are gettin' pretty smart about it, too, puttin' those "Look up and live" signs right under those high power electrical wires. Very, very subtile.

And those deer crossin' signs. At least nowadays the deer on the signs look like deer. Back in the good old days, I remember lookin' at those deer signs and wondering who drew it. Cause it looked like a dog with horns, not a deer.

I just hope these new signs work better than the old ones, cause if the deer on the sign don't look like a deer, how are those deer gonna know where to cross?

We may have just caused more senseless deer casualties cause they were looking at a sign wondering if this is the right place for deer to cross, or is it a place for dogs with horns?

I just think it is a humanitarian thing to do, you know. Puttin' those signs up so the deer know where to cross. It just shows what kind 'a carin' people live here in the US of A.

But don't get me started about those "Fallin' Rocks" signs. Why would you put those near roads?

Oh also, I jist wanna take this opportunity to apoleegize to the waiter I was rude to yisterday. I'm usually a pleasant kinda person, but when my back gets up, watch out!

I don't know what was in my craw that made me complain in no uncertain terms that I was not pleased by being made to wait fer a seat at that fancy restaurant yisterday.

It may have been the fact that I am a pretty ornery lookin' fellow, with my wild whiskers and crazy hair. I do look a sight, and I'm not the kind of person most people want to see at an upscale feedbag place. I'm kinda surprized they didn't stick me in the back corner, which has been done to me before.

After I calmed down, I felt bad, so I wound up leavin' a really good tip, but that still don't mean I shoulda been rude.

Sorry, Mr. Matra-dee. Sometimes even MT Noggin puts on airs. But the real message here is you can't judge a book by it's cover. I may look like a crusty ole coot, and sometimes my manners ain't the best, but I gave that waiter the best bump he had all day -- probably a thirty-percent tip. Those table waitin' people deserve it, puttin up with all the nonsense us uppity people dish out.

But don't be judging us scroungy lookin' sorts. All one summer when I was especially hairy-faced and wild-lookin', I couldn't get no good service nowhere. People would ignore me, hopin' I was going away, but I jist stood my ground, waitin' for them to do their job, which was to serve me.

The worst place was those convenience stores. I couldn't walk up and down an aisle without havin' someone on my tail wonderin' what I was gettin' ready to steal.

The sad part about this whole tale is that the community as a whole is a God-fearin', Jesus-lovin' people. They want everybody to know that Jesus loves them, but he might not love you if you have a scroungy beard or uncombed hair.

Makes you wonder what kind of service Jesus would git around here if he came back and wanted a seat in an upscale place.

They'd probly make him wear shoes, and a tie. Come to think of it, if he went to church, he probly wouldn't git in the door, 'specily if he was wearin' sandals.


Mares eat oats

And does eat oats

And little lambs eat ivy

A kid’ll eat ivy too

Wouldn’t you?



Jist remember, you heard it here first from MT Noggin.



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The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids

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The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids
by the Brothers Grimm


THERE was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids, and loved them with all the love of a mother for her children. One day she wanted to go into the forest and fetch some food. So she called all seven to her and said, “Dear children, I have to go into the forest, be on your guard against the wolf; if he comes in, he will devour you all—skin, hair and all. The wretch often disguises himself, but you will know him at once by his rough voice and his black feet.”

The kids said, “Dear mother, we will take good care of ourselves; you may go away without any anxiety.” Then the old one bleated, and went on her way with an easy mind.

It was not long before someone knocked at the house-door and cried, “Open the door, dear children; your mother is here, and has brought something back with her for each of you.” But the little kids knew that it was the wolf, by the rough voice; “We will not open the door,” cried they, “thou art not our mother. She has a soft, pleasant voice, but thy voice is rough; thou art the wolf!” Then the wolf went away to a shopkeeper and brought himself a great lump of chalk, ate this and made his voice soft with it. Then he came back, knocked at the door of the house, and cried, “Open the door, dear children, your mother is here and has brought something back with her for each of you.”

But the wolf had laid his black paws against the window, and the children saw them and cried, “We will not open the door, our mother has not black feet like thee: thou art the wolf!” Then the wolf ran to a baker and said, “I have hurt my feet, rub some dough over them for me.” And when the baker had rubbed his feet over, he ran to the miller and said, “Strew some white meal over my feet for me.” The miller thought to himself, “The wolf wants to deceive someone,” and refused; but the wolf said, “If thou wilt not do it, I will devour thee.” Then the miller was afraid, and made his paws white for him. Truly men are like that.

So now the wretch went for the third time to the house-door, knocked at it and said, “Open the door for me, children, your dear little mother has come home, and has brought every one of you something back from the forest with her.” The little kids cried, “First show us thy paws that we may know if thou art our dear little mother.” Then he put his paws in through the window, and when the kids saw that they were white, they believed that all he said was true, and opened the door.

But who should come in but the wolf!

They were terrified and wanted to hide themselves. One sprang under the table, the second into the bed, the third into the stove, the fourth into the kitchen, the fifth into the cupboard, the sixth under the washing-bowl, and the seventh into the clock-case. But the wolf found them all, and used no great ceremony; one after the other he swallowed them down his throat. The youngest in the clock-case was the only one he did not find. When the wolf had satisfied his appetite he took himself off, laid himself down under a tree in the green meadow outside, and began to sleep.

Soon afterwards the old goat came home again from the forest! Ah! What a sight she saw there! The house-door stood wide open. The table, chairs, and benches were thrown down, the washing-bowl lay broken to pieces, and the quilts and pillows were pulled off the bed. She sought her children, but they were nowhere to be found. She called them one after another by name, but no one answered. At last, when she came to the youngest, a soft voice cried, “Dear mother, I am in the clock-case.” She took the kid out, and it told her that the wolf had come and had eaten all the others. Then you may imagine how she wept over her poor children.

At length in her grief she went out, and the youngest kid ran with her. When they came to the meadow, there lay the wolf by the tree and snored so loud that the branches shook. She looked at him on every side and saw that something was moving and struggling in his gorged body. “Ah, heavens,” said she, “is it possible that my poor children whom he has swallowed down for his supper, can be still alive?”

Then the kid had to run home and fetch scissors, and a needle and thread, and the goat cut open the monster’s stomach, and hardly had she made one cut, than one little kid thrust its head out, and when she had cut farther, all six sprang out one after another, and were all still alive, and had suffered no injury whatever, for in his greediness the monster had swallowed them down whole.

What rejoicing there was! Then they embraced their dear mother, and jumped like a tailor at his wedding. The mother, however, said, “Now go and look for some big stones, and we will fill the wicked beast’s stomach with them while he is still asleep.” Then the seven kids dragged the stones thither with all speed, and put as many of them into his stomach as they could get in; and the mother sewed him up again in the greatest haste, so that he was not aware of anything and never once stirred.

When the wolf at length had had his sleep out, he got on his legs, and as the stones in his stomach made him very thirsty, he wanted to go to a well to drink. But when he began to walk and to move about, the stones in his stomach knocked against each other and rattled. Then cried he,


“What rumbles and tumbles

Against my poor bones?

I thought ’twas six kids,

But it’s naught but big stones.”


And when he got to the well and stooped over the water and was just about to drink, the heavy stones made him fall in and there was no help, but he had to drown miserably.

When the seven kids saw that, they came running to the spot and cried aloud, “The wolf is dead! The wolf is dead!” and danced for joy round about the well with their mother.





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