There was once upon a time a very old woman, who lived with he flock of geese in a waste place
among the mountains, and there had a little house.  The waste was surrounded by a large forest,
and every morning the old woman took her crutch and hobbled into it.  There, however, the dame
was quite active, more so than any one would have thought, considering her age, and collected
grass for her geese, picked all the wild fruit she could reach, and carried everything home on her
back.  Any one would have thought that the heavy load would have weighed her to the ground,
but she always brought it safely home.  If any one met her, she greeted him quite courteously.
"Good day, dear countryman, it is a fine day.  Ah! you wonder that I should drag grass about, but
every one must take his burthen on his back."  Nevertheless, people did not like to meet her if
they could help it, and took by preference a round-about way, and when a father with his boys
passed her, he whispered to them, "Beware of the old woman.  She has claws beneath her gloves;
she is a witch."  One morning, a handsome young man was going through the forest.  The sun
shone bright, the birds sang, a cool breeze crept through the leaves, and he was full of joy and
gladness.  He had as yet met no one, when he suddenly perceived the old witch kneeling on the
ground cutting grass with a sickle.  She had already thrust a whole load into her cloth, and near it
stood two baskets, which were filled with wild apples and pears.  "But, good little mother," said
he, "how canst thou carry all that away?"  "I must carry it, dear sir," answered she, "rich folk's
children have no need to do such things, but with the peasant folk the saying goes, don't look
behind you, you will only see how crooked your back is!"

"Will you help me?" she said, as he remained standing by her.  "You have still a straight back
and young legs, it would be a trifle to you.  Besides, my house is not so very far from here, it
stands there on the heath behind the hill.  How soon you would bound up thither."  The young
man took compassion on the old woman.  "My father is certainly no peasant," replied he, "but a
rich count; nevertheless, that you may see that it is not only peasants who can carry things, I will
take your bundle."  If you will try it," said she, "I shall be very glad.  You will certainly have to
walk for an hour, but what will that signify to you; only you must carry the apples and pears as
well?"  It now seemed to the young man just a little serious, when he heard of an hour's walk, but the old
woman would not let him off, packed the bundle on his back, and hung the two baskets on his
arm.  "See, it is quite light," said she.  "No, it is not light," answered the count, and pulled a
rueful face.  "Verily, the bundle weighs as heavily as if it were full of cobble stones, and the
apples and pears are as heavy as lead!  I can scarcely breathe."  He had a mind to put everything
down again, but the old woman would not allow it.  "Just look," said she mockingly, "the young
gentleman will not carry what I, an old woman, have so often dragged along.  You are ready with
fine words, but when it comes to be earnest, you want to take to your hee

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