The Juniper Tree

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Long ago, at least two thousand years, there was a rich man who had a beautiful and pious¹ wife, and they loved each other dearly. However, they had no children, though they wished very much to have some, and the woman prayed for them day and night, but they didn't get any, and they didn't get any.

　　In front of their house there was a courtyard where there stood a juniper tree. One day in winter the woman was standing² beneath it, peeling herself an apple, and while she was thus peeling the apple, she cut her finger, and the blood fell into the snow.

　　"Oh," said the woman. She sighed heavily, looked at the blood before her, and was most unhappy. "If only I had a child as red as blood and as white as snow." And as she said that, she became quite contented³, and felt sure that it was going to happen.

　　Then she went into the house, and a month went by, and the snow was gone. And two months, and everything was green. And three months, and all the flowers came out of the earth. And four months, and all the trees in the woods grew thicker, and the green branches were all entwined in one another, and the birds sang until the woods resounded⁴ and the blossoms fell from the trees. Then the fifth month passed, and she stood beneath the juniper tree, which smelled so sweet that her heart jumped for joy, and she fell on her knees and was beside herself. And when the sixth month was over, the fruit was thick and large, and then she was quite still. And after the seventh month she picked the juniper berries and ate them greedily. Then she grew sick and sorrowful. Then the eighth month passed, and she called her husband to her, and cried, and said, "If I die, then bury me beneath the juniper tree." Then she was quite comforted and happy until the next month was over, and then she had a child as white as snow and as red as blood, and when she saw it, she was so happy that she died.

　　Her husband buried her beneath the juniper tree, and he began to cry bitterly. After some time he was more at ease, and although he still cried, he could bear it. And some time later he took another wife.

　　He had a daughter by the second wife, but the first wife's child was a little son, and he was as red as blood and as white as snow. When the woman looked at her daughter, she loved her very much, but then she looked at the little boy, and it pierced her heart, for she thought that he would always stand in her way, and she was always thinking how she could get the entire inheritance for her daughter. And the Evil One filled her mind with this until she grew very angry with the little boy, and she pushed him from one corner to the other and slapped him here and cuffed⁵ him there, until the poor child was always afraid, for when he came home from school there was nowhere he could find any peace.

　　One day the woman had gone upstairs to her room, when her little daughter came up too, and said, "Mother, give me an apple."

　　"Yes, my child," said the woman, and gave her a beautiful apple out of the chest. The chest had a large heavy lid with a large sharp iron lock.

　　"Mother," said the little daughter, "is brother not to have one too?"

　　This made the woman angry, but she said, "Yes, when he comes home from school."

　　When from the window she saw him coming, it was as though the Evil One came over her, and she grabbed the apple and took it away from her daughter, saying, "You shall not have one before your brother."

　　She threw the apple into the chest, and shut it. Then the little boy came in the door, and the Evil One made her say to him kindly⁶, "My son, do you want an apple?" And she looked at him fiercely.

　　"Mother," said the little boy, "how angry you look. Yes, give me an apple."

　　Then it seemed to her as if she had to persuade him. "Come with me," she said, opening the lid of the chest. "Take out an apple for yourself." And while the little boy was leaning over, the Evil One prompted her, and crash! she slammed down the lid, and his head flew off, falling among the red apples.

　　Then fear overcame her, and she thought, "Maybe I can get out of this." So she went upstairs to her room to her chest of drawers, and took a white scarf out of the top drawer, and set the head on the neck again, tying the scarf around it so that nothing could be seen. Then she set him on a chair in front of the door and put the apple in his hand.

　　After this Marlene came into the kitchen to her mother, who was standing by the fire with a pot of hot water before her which she was stirring around and around.

　　"Mother," said Marlene, "brother is sitting at the door, and he looks totally white and has an apple in his hand. I asked him to give me the apple, but he did not answer me, and I was very frightened."

　　"Go back to him," said her mother, "and if he will not answer you, then box his ears."

　　So Marlene went to him and said, "Brother, give me the apple." But he was silent, so she gave him one on the ear, and his head fell off. Marlene was terrified, and began crying and screaming, and ran to her mother, and said, "Oh, mother, I have knocked my brother's head off," and she cried and cried and could not be comforted.

　　"Marlene," said the mother, "what have you done? Be quiet and don't let anyone know about it. It cannot be helped now. We will cook him into stew⁷."

　　Then the mother took the little boy and chopped him in pieces, put him into the pot, and cooked him into stew. But Marlene stood by crying and crying, and all her tears fell into the pot, and they did not need any salt.

　　Then the father came home, and sat down at the table and said, "Where is my son?" And the mother served up a large, large dish of stew, and Marlene cried and could not stop.

　　Then the father said again, "Where is my son?"

　　"Oh," said the mother, "he has gone across the country to his mother's great uncle. He will stay there awhile."

　　"What is he doing there? He did not even say good-bye to me."

　　"Oh, he wanted to go, and asked me if he could stay six weeks. He will be well taken care of there."

　　"Oh," said the man, "I am unhappy. It isn't right. He should have said good-bye to me." With that he began to eat, saying, "Marlene, why are you crying? Your brother will certainly come back."

　　Then he said, "Wife, this food is delicious. Give me some more." And the more he ate the more he wanted, and he said, "Give me some more. You two shall have none of it. It seems to me as if it were all mine." And he ate and ate, throwing all the bones under the table, until he had finished it all.

　　Marlene went to her chest of drawers, took her best silk scarf from the bottom drawer, and gathered all the bones from beneath the table and tied them up in her silk scarf, then carried them outside the door, crying tears of blood.

　　She laid them down beneath the juniper tree on the green grass, and after she had put them there, she suddenly felt better and did not cry anymore.

　　Then the juniper tree began to move. The branches moved apart, then moved together again, just as if someone were rejoicing and clapping his hands. At the same time a mist seemed to rise from the tree, and in the center of this mist it burned like a fire, and a beautiful bird flew out of the fire singing magnificently, and it flew high into the air, and when it was gone, the juniper tree was just as it had been before, and the cloth with the bones was no longer there. Marlene, however, was as happy and contented as if her brother were still alive. And she went merrily into the house, sat down at the table, and ate.

　　Then the bird flew away and lit on a goldsmith's house, and began to sing:

　　My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid them beneath the juniper tree, Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　The goldsmith was sitting in his workshop making a golden chain, when he heard the bird sitting on his roof and singing. The song seemed very beautiful to him. He stood up, but as he crossed the threshold he lost one of his slippers⁹. However, he went right up the middle of the street with only one slipper⁸ and one sock on. He had his leather apron¹⁰ on, and in one hand he had a golden chain and in the other his tongs¹¹. The sun was shining brightly on the street.

　　He walked onward¹², then stood still and said to the bird, "Bird," he said, "how beautifully you can sing. Sing that piece again for me."

　　"No," said the bird, "I do not sing twice for nothing. Give me the golden chain, and then I will sing it again for you."

　　The goldsmith said, "Here is the golden chain for you. Now sing that song again for me." Then the bird came and took the golden chain in his right claw, and went and sat in front of the goldsmith, and sang:

　　My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid them beneath the juniper tree, Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　Then the bird flew away to a shoemaker, and lit on his roof and sang:

　　My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid them beneath the juniper tree, Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　Hearing this, the shoemaker ran out of doors in his shirtsleeves, and looked up at his roof, and had to hold his hand in front of his eyes to keep the sun from blinding him. "Bird," said he, "how beautifully you can sing."

　　Then he called in at his door, "Wife, come outside. There is a bird here. Look at this bird. He certainly can sing." Then he called his daughter and her children, and the journeyman, and the apprentice¹³, and the maid, and they all came out into the street and looked at the bird and saw how beautiful he was, and what fine red and green feathers he had, and how his neck was like pure gold, and how his eyes shone like stars in his head.

　　"Bird," said the shoemaker, "now sing that song again for me."

　　"No," said the bird, "I do not sing twice for nothing. You must give me something."

　　"Wife," said the man, "go into the shop. There is a pair of red shoes on the top shelf. Bring them down." Then the wife went and brought the shoes.

　　"There, bird," said the man, "now sing that piece again for me." Then the bird came and took the shoes in his left claw, and flew back to the roof, and sang:

　　My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid them beneath the juniper tree, Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　When he had finished his song he flew away. In his right claw he had the chain and in his left one the shoes. He flew far away to a mill, and the mill went clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack. In the mill sat twenty miller's apprentices¹⁴ cutting a stone, and chiseling¹⁵ chip-chop, chip-chop, chip-chop. And the mill went clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack.

　　Then the bird went and sat on a linden tree which stood in front of the mill, and sang:

　　My mother, she killed me,

　　Then one of them stopped working.

　　My father, he ate me,

　　Then two more stopped working and listened,

　　My sister Marlene,

　　Then four more stopped,

　　Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf,

　　Now only eight only were chiseling,

　　Laid them beneath

　　Now only five,

　　the juniper tree,

　　Now only one,

　　Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　Then the last one stopped also, and heard the last words. "Bird," said he, "how beautifully you sing. Let me hear that too. Sing it once more for me."

　　"No," said the bird, "I do not sing twice for nothing. Give me the millstone, and then I will sing it again."

　　"Yes," he said, "if it belonged only to me, you should have it."

　　"Yes," said the others, "if he sings again he can have it."

　　Then the bird came down, and the twenty millers¹⁶ took a beam and lifted the stone up. Yo-heave-ho! Yo-heave-ho! Yo-heave-ho!

　　The bird stuck his neck through the hole and put the stone on as if it were a collar, then flew to the tree again, and sang:

　　My mother, she killed me, My father, he ate me, My sister Marlene, Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid them beneath the juniper tree, Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　When he was finished singing, he spread his wings, and in his right claw he had the chain, and in his left one the shoes, and around his neck the millstone. He flew far away to his father's house.

　　In the room the father, the mother, and Marlene were sitting at the table.

　　The father said, "I feel so contented. I am so happy."

　　"Not I," said the mother, "I feel uneasy, just as if a bad storm were coming."

　　But Marlene just sat and cried and cried.

　　Then the bird flew up, and as it seated itself on the roof, the father said, "Oh, I feel so truly happy, and the sun is shining so beautifully outside. I feel as if I were about to see some old acquaintance again."

　　"Not I," said the woman, "I am so afraid that my teeth are chattering¹⁷, and I feel like I have fire in my veins¹⁸." And she tore open her bodice even more. Marlene sat in a corner crying. She held a handkerchief before her eyes and cried until it was wet clear through.

　　Then the bird seated itself on the juniper tree, and sang:

　　My mother, she killed me,

　　The mother stopped her ears and shut her eyes, not wanting to see or hear, but there was a roaring in her ears like the fiercest storm, and her eyes burned and flashed like lightning.

　　My father, he ate me,

　　"Oh, mother," said the man, "that is a beautiful bird. He is singing so splendidly, and the sun is shining so warmly, and it smells like pure cinnamon."

　　My sister Marlene,

　　Then Marlene laid her head on her knees and cried and cried, but the man said, "I am going out. I must see the bird up close."

　　"Oh, don't go," said the woman, "I feel as if the whole house were shaking and on fire."

　　But the man went out and looked at the bird.

　　Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf, Laid them beneath the juniper tree, Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　With this the bird dropped the golden chain, and it fell right around the man's neck, so exactly around it that it fit beautifully. Then the man went in and said, "Just look what a beautiful bird that is, and what a beautiful golden chain he has given me, and how nice it looks."

　　But the woman was terrified. She fell down on the floor in the room, and her cap fell off her head. Then the bird sang once more:

　　My mother killed me.

　　"I wish I were a thousand fathoms¹⁹ beneath the earth, so I would not have to hear that!"

　　My father, he ate me,

　　Then the woman fell down as if she were dead.

　　My sister Marlene,

　　"Oh," said Marlene, "I too will go out and see if the bird will give me something." Then she went out.

　　Gathered all my bones, Tied them in a silken scarf,

　　He threw the shoes down to her.

　　Laid them beneath the juniper tree, Tweet, tweet, what a beautiful bird am I.

　　Then she was contented and happy. She put on the new red shoes and danced and leaped into the house. "Oh," she said, "I was so sad when I went out and now I am so contented. That is a splendid bird, he has given me a pair of red shoes."

　　"No," said the woman, jumping to her feet and with her hair standing up like flames of fire, "I feel as if the world were coming to an end. I too, will go out and see if it makes me feel better."

　　And as she went out the door, crash! the bird threw the millstone on her head, and it crushed her to death.

　　The father and Marlene heard it and went out. Smoke, flames, and fire were rising from the place, and when that was over, the little brother was standing there, and he took his father and Marlene by the hand, and all three were very happy, and they went into the house, sat down at the table, and ate.

大概是在二千年以前吧，有一个富人对自己的妻子非常爱护，夫妻俩相亲相爱，生活非常幸福，遗憾的是他们一直没有小孩。他们的房屋前有一座花园，里面有一棵高大的桧树。一年冬天，外面下起了大雪，大地披上了白色的银装，妻子站在桧树下，一边欣赏着雪景，一边削着苹果，一不留神，小刀切到了手指头，滴滴鲜血流出来洒在了雪地上。看着白雪衬托着的鲜红血点，她深深地歎了一口气说道：「唉——！要是我有一个孩子，他的皮肤像雪一般的白嫩，又透着血一样的红润，我该是多么的幸福啊！」说着想着，她的心情变得兴奋起来，彷彿自己的愿望真的就要成为现实一样。

　　冬天过去了，春风吹来，卸去了披在大地身上的银装，又给她换上了绿色的外套，朵朵鲜花点缀着翠绿的田野；当树木吐露出春芽时，嫩枝又开始被拂去枝头的残花，小鸟在树丛间欢快地飞来跳去，唱着讚美春天的歌声。面对这生机盎然的大自然，富人的妻子满怀希望，心中充满了喜悦。初夏来临，温暖的阳光又催开了桧树的花蕾，和暖的夏风夹带着丝丝甜意的花香飘进了她的房中。花香使她心情激荡，心跳不已。她来到桧树下，欣喜地跪在地上，虔诚地默默祈祷着。秋天快到了，当树枝上挂满纍纍果实的时候，她从桧树上採下色泽深红的乾果。不知为甚么，她此时的心情显得非常悲哀而伤心。她叫来丈夫对他说：「如果我死了，就把我埋在这桧树下吧。」不久，她生下了一个非常漂亮的儿子，孩子长得正如她所希望的一样，真是白里透红、红中透粉。看见自己可爱的孩子，她心里充满了快乐，再也支持不住生产的痛苦，慢慢地垂下脑袋，离开了自己的丈夫和刚生下的孩子。

　　丈夫按照她的愿望把她埋在了桧树下，痛哭着哀悼她的去世。过了一段时间，他心情平静了一些，眼泪也少多了。又过了一段时间，他的眼泪完全没有了，再过了一段时间，他娶了另外一个妻子。

　　时光流逝，第二个妻子生了一个女儿，她非常呵护这个女儿，但前妻生下的儿子长得越来越惹人喜爱，像雪一样的白嫩，透着血一般的红润。她看见这个孩子就充满了仇恨，认为有了他，她和自己的女儿就得不到丈夫的全部财富了。所以，她对这个可怜的孩子百般苛待，经常虐待他，把他从屋子里的一个角落推搡到另一个角落，一会儿给他一拳头，过一会儿又拧他一下，他身上尽是青红紫绿的瘀伤。他从学校放学回来，往往一进屋就没有安宁的地方可待，这使他看见继母就害怕。

　　有一次，小女孩的母亲要到贮藏室去，她赶上妈妈说道：「妈妈，我可以吃一个苹果吗？」妈妈回答说：「好的！我的小乖乖。」说完，她从箱子里拿出一个鲜艳的红苹果给了她。这个箱子的盖子非常沉重，上面有一把锋利的大铁卡子。小女孩接过苹果说道：「妈妈，再给我一个，我要拿给小哥哥去吃。」她妈妈听了心里很不高兴，但嘴里却说道：「好吧，我的宝贝！等他放学回来后，我同样会给他一个的。」说着这话，她从窗子里看见小男孩正好回来了，马上从女儿手中夺回苹果，扔进箱子，关上盖子对女儿说：「等哥哥回来以后，再一起吃吧。」

　　小男孩走进家门，这个阴险的女人用温柔的声音说道：「进来吧，我的乖孩子，我给你一个苹果吃。」小男孩听到这话，说道：「妈妈，你今天真亲切！我的确很想吃苹果。」「好的，跟我进来吧！」说罢，她把他带进贮藏室，揭开箱子盖说：「你自己拿一个吧。」当小男孩俯身低头，伸手准备从箱子里拿苹果时，她狠毒地拉下了箱盖，「砰！」的一声，沉重的箱盖猛地砍下了这可怜小男孩的头，头掉落在了箱子里的苹果中。当她意识到自己所做的事以后，感到非常恐惧，心里算计着怎样才能让自己与这事脱离干系。她走进自己的卧室，从抽屉里拿出一条手巾，来到贮藏室，将小男孩的头接在他的脖子上，用手巾缠住，又将他抱到门前的一个凳子上坐着，在他手里塞了一个苹果。一切料理完毕，没有一个人看见她所干的勾当。

　　不久，小女孩玛傑丽走进厨房，看见妈妈站在火炉旁，搅动着一锅热水，她说道：「妈妈，哥哥坐在门边，手里拿着一个苹果，我要他给我，但他一句话也不说，脸色好苍白，我好怕哟。」妈妈回答道：「混帐！你再去，如果他不回答你的话，就狠狠地给他一耳光。」玛傑丽转身来到门口对哥哥说：「哥哥，把苹果给我。」但哥哥不说一句话，她伸手一耳光打去，哥哥的头一下子就打被落下来。这一下，她连魂都吓跑了，尖叫着跑到她妈妈面前，说自己把哥哥的头打掉了，说着就伤心欲绝地大哭起来。妈妈说道：「玛傑丽！你做了甚么事呀？唉！已经做了的事是无法挽回的了，我们最好把他处理掉，不要向任何人提起这事。」母亲抓起小男孩，把他剁碎，放到锅子里，做了一锅汤。可是玛傑丽只是站在那里哭，眼泪一滴滴地掉进锅里，所以锅里根本就不用放盐了。

　　当父亲回家吃饭的时候，他问道：「我的小儿子呢？」母亲没有吭声，她端了一大碗黑汤放在桌子上，玛傑丽一直伤心地低着头在痛哭。父亲又一次问到他的小儿子到哪里去了，母亲说道：「啊！我想他去他叔叔家了。」父亲问道：「有甚么事走得这么匆忙，连向我告别都来不及就走了呢？」母亲又回答说：「我知道他很想去，他还求我让他在那里住一段时间哩，他在那里一定会过得很好。」父亲说道：「唉！我可不喜欢他这样做，他应该向我告别再走才对。」他继续吃了起来，但心里却仍然对他的儿子放心不下，总觉得有些伤心，就对小女儿说：「玛傑丽，你哭甚么呢？我想你哥哥会回来的。」但玛傑丽很快溜出餐厅，来到自己的房间，打开抽屉，拿出她最好的丝制手绢，把她小哥哥的残骸包起来，提到屋外，放在了桧树下面。她自始至终都在伤心地流着眼泪，到这时才觉得心里稍微轻松一点，便停止了哭泣。

　　等她擦乾眼泪再看时，她发现桧树竟开始自动地前后摆动起来，一根根树枝伸展开来，然后又相互合在一起，就像是一个人在高兴地拍着手一样。接着，树中显现出了薄薄的云雾，云雾的中间有一团燃烧着的火焰，一只漂亮的小鸟从火焰中腾起，飞向了天空。小鸟飞走后，手巾和小男孩不见了，树也恢复了原样。玛傑丽这时的内心才真正地快乐起来，彷彿她哥哥又活了一样，她高兴地走进屋子吃饭去了。

　　那只小鸟飞走之后，落在了一个金匠的房顶，开始唱道：

　　「我的母亲杀了她的小儿郎，我的父亲把我吞进了肚肠，美丽的玛傑丽小姑娘，同情我惨遭魔掌，把我安放在桧树身旁。

　　现在我快乐地到处飞翔，飞过群山峡谷、飞过海洋，我是一只小鸟，我多么漂亮！」

　　金匠坐在自己的店铺里正好做完一根金链条，当他听到屋顶上鸟儿的歌声时，站起来就往外跑，匆忙之中，滑落了一只鞋也顾不上去穿。金匠冲到街上，腰间还系着工作围裙，一只手拿着铁钳，一只手拿着金链条。他抬头一看，发现一只小鸟正栖息在屋顶上，太阳在小鸟光洁的羽毛上闪闪发亮。他说道：「我漂亮的小鸟，你唱得多么甜美啊！请你再把这首歌唱一遍。」小鸟说道：「不行，没有报酬我不会再唱第二遍，如果你把金链条给我，我就再唱给你听。」金匠想了一下，举起金链条说：「在这儿，你只要再唱一遍，就拿去吧。」小鸟飞下来，用右爪抓住金链条，停在金匠近前唱道：

　　「我的母亲杀了她的小儿郎，我的父亲以为我去向远方，美丽的玛傑丽小姑娘，同情我惨遭魔掌，把我安放在桧树身旁。

　　现在我快乐地到处飞翔，飞过群山峡谷、飞过海洋，我是一只小鸟，我多么漂亮！」

　　唱完之后，小鸟飞落在一个鞋匠的屋顶上面，和前面一样唱了起来。

　　鞋匠听到歌声，连外衣都没穿就跑出屋门，抬头朝房顶望去，但刺眼的阳光照着他，使他不得不抬起手挡在眼睛前。看出是只小鸟后，他说道：「小鸟，你唱得多么悦耳啊！」又对房子里喊道：「夫人！夫人！快出来，快来看我们的屋顶上落了一只漂亮的小鸟，它在唱歌呢！」然后，又叫来他的孩子们和伙计们。他们都跑了出来，站在外面惊讶地看着这只小鸟，看着它红绿相衬的漂亮羽毛，看着它脖子上闪耀着金色光彩的羽环，看着它像星星一样亮晶晶的眼睛。鞋匠说道：「喂，小鸟，请你再把那首歌唱一遍吧。」小鸟回答说：「不行，没有报酬我不会再唱第二遍。如果要我唱，你得给我一点东西。」鞋匠对他的妻子说道：「夫人，你快到楼上的作坊去找一双最好的，红色的新鞋子拿来给我。」妻子跑去把鞋子拿来了，鞋匠拿着鞋子说：「我漂亮的小鸟，拿去吧，但请你把那首歌再唱一遍。」小鸟飞下来用左爪抓住鞋子后，又飞上屋顶唱道：

　　「我的母亲杀了她的小儿郎，我的父亲以为我去向远方，美丽的玛傑丽小姑娘，同情我惨遭魔掌，把我安放在桧树身旁。

　　现在我快乐地到处飞翔，飞过群山峡谷、飞过海洋，我是一只小鸟，我多么漂亮！」

　　它唱完之后，一只爪子抓着鞋子，另一只爪子抓着金链条飞走了。它飞了很远很远才来到一座磨坊，磨子正在「轰隆隆！轰咚咚！轰隆隆！轰咚咚！」地转动着。磨坊里有二十个伙计正在劈着一块磨石，伙计们用力地「卡嚓！辟啪！卡嚓！辟啪！」地劈着，磨子的轰隆隆、轰咚咚与伙计们劈磨石的卡嚓、辟啪声交织在一起，难听极了。

　　小鸟栖息在磨坊边的一棵椴树上，开始唱道：

　　「我的母亲杀了她的小儿郎，我的父亲以为我去向远方，」

　　两个磨坊伙计停下手中的活听了起来。

　　「美丽的玛傑丽小姑娘，同情我惨遭魔掌，把我安放在桧树身旁。」

　　除了一个伙计之外，其他伙计都停止了手中的活，向树上望去。

　　「现在我快乐地到处飞翔，飞过群山峡谷、飞过海洋，我是一只小鸟，我多么漂亮！」

　　歌一唱完，最后一名伙计也听到了，他站起来说道：「啊！小鸟，你唱得多动听呀，请你再唱一次，让我把整首歌听一遍！」小鸟说：「不行，没有报酬我不会唱第二遍，把那块磨石给我，我就再唱一遍。」那人回答说：「哎呀！那块磨石不是我的，如果是我的，你拿去我求之不得哩。」其余的伙计都说：「来吧，只要你把那歌再唱一遍，我们都同意给你。」小鸟从树上飞下来，二十个伙计拿着一根长槓子，用尽力气「嗨哟！嗨哟！嗨哟！」终於将磨石的一边抬了起来，小鸟把头穿进磨石中间的孔内，在众伙计目瞪口呆的注视下，背着二十个人都没能抬起的磨石，飞上了椴树，他们惊奇得不得了，而小鸟就像没事一般，把那首歌又唱了一遍。

　　小鸟唱完歌，张开翅膀，一只爪抓着链子，另一只爪子抓着鞋子，脖子上套着磨石，飞回到他父亲的房子上。

　　现在，他的父亲、母亲和玛傑丽正坐在一起准备吃饭。父亲说：「我感觉现在是多么的轻松，多么的愉快啊！」但他的母亲却说：「唉！我心情好沉重，真是糟透了。我觉得就像有暴风雨要来似的。」玛傑丽没有说话，她坐下便哭了起来。正在这个时候，小鸟飞来落在了房屋的顶上。父亲说道：「上帝保佑！我真快乐，总觉得又要看到一个老朋友一样。」母亲说道：「哎哟！我好痛苦，我的牙齿在不停地打战，浑身的血管里的血就像在燃烧一样！」说着，她撕开了身上的长外套想让自己镇静下来。玛傑丽独自坐在一个角落里，她前面的裙摆上放着一只盒子，她哭得非常厉害，眼泪唰唰地淌个不停，把盒子都流满了。

　　小鸟接着飞到桧树顶上开始唱道：

　　「我的母亲杀了她的小儿郎，——」

　　母亲马上用手摀住耳朵，把眼睛闭得紧紧的，她认为这样一来既不会看见，也不会听到了。但歌声就像可怕的暴风雨一样灌进了她的耳朵，她的眼睛像闪电一样在燃烧，在闪光。父亲吃惊地叫道：「哎呀！夫人。」

　　「我的父亲以为我去向远方，——」

　　「那是一只多么漂亮的小鸟啊，他唱得多么美妙动听啊！

　　看那羽毛在阳光下就像许多闪烁的宝石一样。」

　　「美丽的玛傑丽小姑娘，同情我惨遭魔掌，把我放在桧树身旁。——」

　　玛傑丽抬起头，悲伤地哭泣着。父亲说：「我要出去，要走近前去看看这只小鸟。」母亲说：「啊！别留下我一个人在这里，我感觉这房子就像在燃烧一样。」但父亲还是走出去看那只鸟去了，小鸟继续唱道：

　　「现在我快乐地到处飞翔，飞过群山峡谷、飞过海洋，我是一只小鸟，我多么漂亮！」

　　小鸟刚一唱完，他就把金链条扔下去，套在了父亲的脖子上。父亲戴着非常适合，他走回房子里说道：「你们看，小鸟给了我一条多么漂亮的金项炼，看起来多气派呀！」但他妻子非常害怕，吓得瘫在了地板上，帽子也掉了下来，就像死了一样。

　　这时，小鸟又开始唱了起来，玛傑丽说：「我也要出去，看看小鸟是否会给我东西。」她刚一出门，小鸟就把红鞋子扔到她的面前。她把鞋捡起来穿上，觉得自己一下子轻松快乐起来了。跳着跑进屋子里说道：「我出去时心情压抑，悲痛，现在我真快乐！你们看小鸟给我的鞋子多么漂亮呀！」母亲说道：「哎呀！像是世界的末日来到了一样！我也得出去试一试，说不定我会觉得好一些的。」她刚一出去，小鸟把磨石扔到了她的头上，将她砸得粉碎。

　　父亲和玛傑丽听到声音，急忙跑了出来，母亲和小鸟都不见了，他们只看见烟雾和火焰在那里升腾燃烧。当烟火散尽消失后，小男孩站在了他们身边，他伸手牵着父亲和玛傑丽的手，走进屋子里，快快乐乐地和他们一起吃起饭来。

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