Section 1
There was an elderly miller who lived in a specific mill, and he did not have a spouse or offspring and he had three apprentices working for him. After spending many years with him, the miller addressed his three apprentices and expressed his desire to retire and lead a more sedentary life by saying, "I am advanced in age and wish to spend my time sitting behind the stove." "Whichever of the three apprentices brings back the best horse will receive the mill as a reward and will be responsible for taking care of the miller until his death,"
Although the third apprentice was considered foolish by the other two, and they were reluctant to see him receive the mill, he eventually declined the offer and did not accept it. The two apprentices addressed Hans, who they considered foolish, after the three had set out together and arrived at the village . "You may just as well stay here, as long as you live you will never get a horse." Despite the discouragement, Hans decided to continue with the others, and when night fell, they stumbled upon a cave where they rested for the night. Once Hans had fallen asleep, the two cunning apprentices got up and left, abandoning him in the cave. They believed that their action was quite intelligent, but it was inevitable that it would result in a negative outcome for them.
Upon awakening at sunrise, Hans found himself situated within a profound underground cave.
He scanned his surroundings in all directions and cried out, "Oh, heavens, where am I?" He then stood up and climbed out of the cavern, ventured into the woods, and pondered to himself, "How can I get a horse now?" he wondered, feeling completely abandoned and isolated As he walked lost in contemplation, he encountered a tiny tabby cat that spoke to him in a friendly manner. "Hans, where are you headed?" it asked. "Unfortunately, you won't be able to assist me," Hans replied. "I'm well aware of your wish," the cat responded. "You desire to possess a magnificent horse." "Join me and serve me loyally for a period of seven years," the cat proposed, "and in return, I shall provide you with a horse that surpasses any you've ever laid eyes on." Hans pondered, "This cat is quite peculiar, but I'm resolved to verify if her claims hold true."
The cat then led Hans to her mystical castle, where he discovered that all the servants were nothing but kittens. The agile kittens bounded up and down the stairs, displaying cheerfulness and contentment. Later, at dinner time, three of the felines were tasked with providing musical entertainment. One of them played the bass viol, the second played the fiddle, and the third put the trumpet to his lips and inflated his cheeks to the fullest extent possible.
After finishing their meal, the table was cleared, and the cat spoke up, "Hans, come and dance with me." "I refuse," he responded, "I shan't dance with a feline." "I have never partaken in such an activity," Hans replied. "Well then, let the cats escort you to your bedroom," she suggested. Subsequently, one of the felines guided him to his sleeping quarters, while another removed his shoes and a third took off his socks. Finally, one of them extinguished the candle. The following morning, the kittens returned and assisted him in getting out of bed. One of them helped him put on his socks, another tied his garters, while a third fetched his shoes. Additionally, one of them cleaned him up, and another used her tail to dry his face. "That feels incredibly gentle," exclaimed Hans.
Nonetheless, Hans was obligated to serve the cat by chopping wood on a daily basis, to accomplish this task, he was furnished with a silver axe, and the wedge and saw were also made of silver, while the mallet was crafted from copper. Hans obediently chopped the wood into small pieces, resided within the house, and was provided with exceptional food and drink, however, he only ever encountered the tabby-cat and her servants, and never saw anyone else. "Take this silver scythe and gold whetstone and go mow my meadow and dry the grass," she instructed him. However, she cautioned him to handle the tools with care and return them in the same condition. Following her instructions, Hans went to the meadow, completed the task, and brought back the silver scythe, gold whetstone, and the hay to the house. He then inquired if it was time for the tabby-cat to fulfill her promise and reward him. "No," said the cat, "You must perform another task of the same kind for me first . The tabby-cat instructed Hans to build a small house using silver timber, a carpenter's axe, a square, and all the necessary tools made of silver. After building the house, Hans complained that he had completed everything she had asked for, yet he still did not have the promised horse.
