“That is nothing to you,” replied the witch; “you have the money, now
give me the tinder-box.”
“I tell you what,” said the soldier, “if you don’t tell me what you are
going to do with it, I will draw my sword and cut off your head.”
“No,” said the witch.
The soldier immediately cut off her head, and there she lay on the
ground. Then he tied up all his money in her apron. and slung it on his back
like a bundle, put the tinderbox in his pocket, and walked off to the nearest
town. It was a very nice town, and he put up at the best inn, and ordered a
dinner of all his favorite dishes, for now he was rich and had plenty of
money.
The servant, who cleaned his boots, thought they certainly were a shabby
pair to be worn by such a rich gentleman, for he had not yet bought any new
ones. The next day, however, he procured some good clothes and proper
boots, so that our soldier soon became known as a fine gentleman, and the
people visited him, and told him all the wonders that were to be seen in the
town, and of the king’s beautiful daughter, the princess.
“Where can I see her?” asked the soldier.
“She is not to be seen at all,” they said; “she lives in a large copper castle,
surrounded by walls and towers. No one but the king himself can pass in or
out, for there has been a prophecy that she will marry a common soldier,
and the king cannot bear to think of such a marriage.”
“I should like very much to see her,” thought the soldier; but he could not
obtain permission to do so. However, he passed a very pleasant time; went
to the theatre, drove in the king’s garden, and gave a great deal of money to
the poor, which was very good of him; he remembered what it had been in
olden times to be without a shilling. Now he was rich, had fine clothes, and
many friends, who all declared he was a fine fellow and a real gentleman,
and all this gratified him exceedingly. But his money would not last forever;
and as he spent and gave away a great deal daily, and received none, he
found himself at last with only two shillings left. So he was obliged to leave
