--- title: Little Claus and Big Claus — Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen · full text with trees · page 2 description: Little Claus and Big Claus, «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: In a village there once lived two men who had the same name. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/) / Little Claus and Big Claus # Little Claus and Big Claus · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/page/3/) - [101](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/101/) — "Oh, for my horse's skin, I sold it yesterday." - [102](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/102/) — "It was certainly well paid for then," said Great Claus; and he ran home to his house, seized a hatchet, and knocked all his four horses on the head, flayed off their skins, and took them to the town to sell. " - [103](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/103/) — Skins, skins, who'll buy skins?" he cried, as he went through the streets. - [104](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/104/) — All the shoemakers and tanners came running, and asked how much he wanted for them. - [105](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/105/) — "A bushel of money, for each," replied Great Claus. - [106](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/106/) — "Are you mad?" they all cried; "do you think we have money to spend by the bushel?" - [107](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/107/) — "Skins, skins," he cried again, "who'll buy skins?" but to all who inquired the price, his answer was, "a bushel of money." - [108](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/108/) — "He is making fools of us," said they all; then the shoemakers took their straps, and the tanners their leather aprons, and began to beat Great Claus. - [109](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/109/) — "Skins, skins!" they cried, mocking him; "yes, we'll mark your skin for you, till it is black and blue." - [110](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/110/) — "Out of the town with him," said they. - [111](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/111/) — And Great Claus was obliged to run as fast as he could, he had never before been so thoroughly beaten. - [112](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/112/) — "Ah," said he, as he came to his house; "Little Claus shall pay me for this; I will beat him to death." - [113](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/113/) — Meanwhile the old grandmother of Little Claus died. - [114](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/114/) — She had been cross, unkind, and really spiteful to him; but he was very sorry, and took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to see if he could bring her to life again. - [115](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/115/) — There he determined that she should lie the whole night, while he seated himself in a chair in a corner of the room as he had often done before. - [116](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/116/) — During the night, as he sat there, the door opened, and in came Great Claus with a hatchet. - [117](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/117/) — He knew well where Little Claus's bed stood; so he went right up to it, and struck the old grandmother on the head, thinking it must be Little Claus. - [118](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/118/) — "There," cried he, "now you cannot make a fool of me again;" and then he went home. - [119](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/119/) — "That is a very wicked man," thought Little Claus; "he meant to kill me. - [120](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/120/) — It is a good thing for my old grandmother that she was already dead, or he would have taken her life." - [121](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/121/) — Then he dressed his old grandmother in her best clothes, borrowed a horse of his neighbor, and harnessed it to a cart. - [122](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/122/) — Then he placed the old woman on the back seat, so that she might not fall out as he drove, and rode away through the wood. - [123](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/123/) — By sunrise they reached a large inn, where Little Claus stopped and went to get something to eat. - [124](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/124/) — The landlord was a rich man, and a good man too; but as passionate as if he had been made of pepper and snuff. - [125](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/125/) — "Good morning," said he to Little Claus; "you are come betimes to-day." - [126](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/126/) — "Yes," said Little Claus; "I am going to the town with my old grandmother; she is sitting at the back of the wagon, but I cannot bring her into the room. - [127](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/127/) — Will you take her a glass of mead? but you must speak very loud, for she cannot hear well." - [128](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/128/) — "Yes, certainly I will," replied the landlord; and, pouring out a glass of mead, he carried it out to the dead grandmother, who sat upright in the cart. " - [129](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/129/) — Here is a glass of mead from your grandson," said the landlord. - [130](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/130/) — The dead woman did not answer a word, but sat quite still. " - [131](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/131/) — Do you not hear?" cried the landlord as loud as he could; "here is a glass of mead from your grandson." - [132](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/132/) — Again and again he bawled it out, but as she did not stir he flew into a passion, and threw the glass of mead in her face; it struck her on the nose, and she fell backwards out of the cart, for she was only seated there, not tied in. - [133](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/133/) — "Hallo!" cried Little Claus, rushing out of the door, and seizing hold of the landlord by the throat; "you have killed my grandmother; see, here is a great hole in her forehead." - [134](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/134/) — "Oh, how unfortunate," said the landlord, wringing his hands. " - [135](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/135/) — This all comes of my fiery temper. - [136](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/136/) — Dear Little Claus, I will give you a bushel of money; I will bury your grandmother as if she were my own; only keep silent, or else they will cut off my head, and that would be disagreeable." - [137](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/137/) — So it happened that Little Claus received another bushel of money, and the landlord buried his old grandmother as if she had been his own. - [138](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/138/) — When Little Claus reached home again, he immediately sent a boy to Great Claus, requesting him to lend him a bushel measure. " - [139](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/139/) — How is this?" thought Great Claus; "did I not kill him? - [140](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/140/) — I must go and see for myself." - [141](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/141/) — So he went to Little Claus, and took the bushel measure with him. " - [142](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/142/) — How did you get all this money?" asked Great Claus, staring with wide open eyes at his neighbor's treasures. - [143](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/143/) — "You killed my grandmother instead of me," said Little Claus; "so I have sold her for a bushel of money." - [144](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/144/) — "That is a good price at all events," said Great Claus. - [145](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/145/) — So he went home, took a hatchet, and killed his old grandmother with one blow. - [146](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/146/) — Then he placed her on a cart, and drove into the town to the apothecary, and asked him if he would buy a dead body. - [147](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/147/) — "Whose is it, and where did you get it?" asked the apothecary. - [148](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/148/) — "It is my grandmother," he replied; "I killed her with a blow, that I might get a bushel of money for her." - [149](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/149/) — "Heaven preserve us!" cried the apothecary, "you are out of your mind. - [150](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/150/) — Don't say such things, or you will lose your head." - [151](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/151/) — And then he talked to him seriously about the wicked deed he had done, and told him that such a wicked man would surely be punished. - [152](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/152/) — Great Claus got so frightened that he rushed out of the surgery, jumped into the cart, whipped up his horses, and drove home quickly. - [153](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/153/) — The apothecary and all the people thought him mad, and let him drive where he liked. - [154](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/154/) — "You shall pay for this," said Great Claus, as soon as he got into the highroad, "that you shall, Little Claus." - [155](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/155/) — So as soon as he reached home he took the largest sack he could find and went over to Little Claus. " - [156](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/156/) — You have played me another trick," said he. " - [157](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/157/) — First, I killed all my horses, and then my old grandmother, and it is all your fault; but you shall not make a fool of me any more." - [158](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/158/) — So he laid hold of Little Claus round the body, and pushed him into the sack, which he took on his shoulders, saying, "Now I'm going to drown you in the river." - [159](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/159/) — He had a long way to go before he reached the river, and Little Claus was not a very light weight to carry. - [160](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/160/) — The road led by the church, and as they passed he could hear the organ playing and the people singing beautifully. - [161](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/161/) — Great Claus put down the sack close to the church-door, and thought he might as well go in and hear a psalm before he went any farther. - [162](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/162/) — Little Claus could not possibly get out of the sack, and all the people were in church; so in he went. - [163](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/163/) — "Oh dear, oh dear," sighed Little Claus in the sack, as he turned and twisted about; but he found he could not loosen the string with which it was tied. — checked by a teacher - [164](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/164/) — Presently an old cattle driver, with snowy hair, passed by, carrying a large staff in his hand, with which he drove a large herd of cows and oxen before him. - [165](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/165/) — They stumbled against the sack in which lay Little Claus, and turned it over. " - [166](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/166/) — Oh dear," sighed Little Claus, "I am very young, yet I am soon going to heaven." - [167](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/167/) — "And I, poor fellow," said the drover, "I who am so old already, cannot get there." - [168](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/168/) — "Open the sack," cried Little Claus; "creep into it instead of me, and you will soon be there." - [169](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/169/) — "With all my heart," replied the drover, opening the sack, from which sprung Little Claus as quickly as possible. " - [170](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/170/) — Will you take care of my cattle?" said the old man, as he crept into the bag. - [171](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/171/) — "Yes," said Little Claus, and he tied up the sack, and then walked off with all the cows and oxen. - [172](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/172/) — When Great Claus came out of church, he took up the sack, and placed it on his shoulders. - [173](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/173/) — It appeared to have become lighter, for the old drover was not half so heavy as Little Claus. - [174](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/174/) — "How light he seems now," said he. " - [175](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/175/) — Ah, it is because I have been to a church." - [176](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/176/) — So he walked on to the river, which was deep and broad, and threw the sack containing the old drover into the water, believing it to be Little Claus. " - [177](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/177/) — There you may lie!" he exclaimed; "you will play me no more tricks now." - [178](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/178/) — Then he turned to go home, but when he came to a place where two roads crossed, there was Little Claus driving the cattle. " - [179](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/179/) — How is this?" said Great Claus. " - [180](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/180/) — Did I not drown you just now?" - [181](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/181/) — "Yes," said Little Claus; "you threw me into the river about half an hour ago." - [182](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/182/) — "But wherever did you get all these fine beasts?" asked Great Claus. - [183](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/183/) — "These beasts are sea-cattle," replied Little Claus. " - [184](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/184/) — I'll tell you the whole story, and thank you for drowning me; I am above you now, I am really very rich. - [185](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/185/) — I was frightened, to be sure, while I lay tied up in the sack, and the wind whistled in my ears when you threw me into the river from the bridge, and I sank to the bottom immediately; but I did not hurt myself, for I fell upon beautifully soft grass which grows down there; and in a moment, the sack opened, and the sweetest little maiden came towards me. - [186](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/186/) — She had snow-white robes, and a wreath of green leaves on her wet hair. - [187](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/187/) — She took me by the hand, and said, 'So you are come, Little Claus, and here are some cattle for you to begin with. - [188](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/188/) — About a mile farther on the road, there is another herd for you.' - [189](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/189/) — Then I saw that the river formed a great highway for the people who live in the sea. - [190](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/190/) — They were walking and driving here and there from the sea to the land at the, spot where the river terminates. - [191](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/191/) — The bed of the river was covered with the loveliest flowers and sweet fresh grass. - [192](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/192/) — The fish swam past me as rapidly as the birds do here in the air. - [193](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/193/) — How handsome all the people were, and what fine cattle were grazing on the hills and in the valleys!" - [194](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/194/) — "But why did you come up again," said Great Claus, "if it was all so beautiful down there? - [195](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/195/) — I should not have done so?" - [196](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/196/) — "Well," said Little Claus, "it was good policy on my part; you heard me say just now that I was told by the sea-maiden to go a mile farther on the road, and I should find a whole herd of cattle. - [197](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/197/) — By the road she meant the river, for she could not travel any other way; but I knew the winding of the river, and how it bends, sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left, and it seemed a long way, so I chose a shorter one; and, by coming up to the land, and then driving across the fields back again to the river, I shall save half a mile, and get all my cattle more quickly." - [198](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/198/) — "What a lucky fellow you are!" exclaimed Great Claus. " - [199](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/199/) — Do you think I should get any sea-cattle if I went down to the bottom of the river?" - [200](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/200/) — "Yes, I think so," said Little Claus; "but I cannot carry you there in a sack, you are too heavy. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/71/page/3/) - ← previous: [The Last Pearl](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/70/) - next →: [The Little Elder-tree Mother](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/72/) - ↑ back to [Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/)