his elegant rooms, and live in a little garret under the roof, where he had to
clean his own boots, and even mend them with a large needle. None of his
friends came to see him, there were too many stairs to mount up. One dark
evening, he had not even a penny to buy a candle; then all at once he
remembered that there was a piece of candle stuck in the tinder-box, which
he had brought from the old tree, into which the witch had helped him.
He found the tinder-box, but no sooner had he struck a few sparks from
the flint and steel, than the door flew open and the dog with eyes as big as
teacups, whom he had seen while down in the tree, stood before him, and
said, “What orders, master?”
“Hallo,” said the soldier; “well this is a pleasant tinderbox, if it brings me
all I wish for.”
“Bring me some money,” said he to the dog.
He was gone in a moment, and presently returned, carrying a large bag of
coppers in his month. The soldier very soon discovered after this the value
of the tinder-box. If he struck the flint once, the dog who sat on the chest of
copper money made his appearance; if twice, the dog came from the chest
of silver; and if three times, the dog with eyes like towers, who watched
over the gold. The soldier had now plenty of money; he returned to his
elegant rooms, and reappeared in his fine clothes, so that his friends knew
him again directly, and made as much of him as before.
After a while he began to think it was very strange that no one could get a
look at the princess. “Every one says she is very beautiful,” thought he to
himself; “but what is the use of that if she is to be shut up in a copper castle
surrounded by so many towers. Can I by any means get to see her. Stop!
where is my tinder-box?” Then he struck a light, and in a moment the dog,
with eyes as big as teacups, stood before him.
“It is midnight,” said the soldier, “yet I should very much like to see the
princess, if only for a moment.”
The dog disappeared instantly, and before the soldier could even look
round, he returned with the princess. She was lying on the dog’s back
