Raw JSON
{
"cleanup_version": "v3",
"cleanup_mode": "child_simplification",
"source_file": "story.json",
"source_v1_file": "story_v1.json",
"source_sha256": "8f6621fd692c491867c6067fed4dda84a7bfc202fcbd1e5a9221c83020233b3c",
"source_v1_sha256": "c1b8f1d70c250eaed105194eb7675edd5fd4f46559c4b08ac86e83662546e705",
"source_title": "The Robber Bridegroom",
"tts_title": "The Robber Bridegroom",
"speech_safe_title": "The Robber Bridegroom",
"kind": "story",
"canonical_url": "https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/030.txt",
"slug": "the-robber-bridegroom",
"story_dirname": "030-the-robber-bridegroom",
"section_slug": null,
"title": "The Robber Bridegroom",
"author": null,
"publisher_label": null,
"source_version": null,
"content_type": null,
"language": null,
"summary": null,
"clean_summary": null,
"body": [
"There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest. She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal. She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.",
"Suddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.",
"Then the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.",
"Alas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.",
"Thereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead. But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger won't run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this. Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.",
"The robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds."
],
"body_text": "There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest. She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal. She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.\n\nSuddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.\n\nThen the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.\n\nAlas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.\n\nThereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.\n\nThey gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead. But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger won't run away from you.\n\nThen the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.\n\nWhen the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.\n\nThen I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this. Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.\n\nThe robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds.",
"clean_body": [
"There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest. She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal. She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.",
"Suddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.",
"Then the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.",
"Alas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.",
"Thereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead. But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger won't run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this. Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.",
"The robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds."
],
"clean_text": "There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest. She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal. She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.\n\nSuddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.\n\nThen the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.\n\nAlas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.\n\nThereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.\n\nThey gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead. But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger won't run away from you.\n\nThen the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.\n\nWhen the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.\n\nThen I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this. Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.\n\nThe robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds.",
"tts_chunks": [
"There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest.",
"She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal.",
"She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.",
"Suddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.",
"Then the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.",
"Alas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.",
"Thereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead.",
"But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger won't run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight.",
"They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.",
"The robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds."
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"There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest. She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal. She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.",
"Suddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.",
"Then the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.",
"Alas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.",
"Thereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead. But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger will not run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this. Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.",
"The robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds."
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The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal. She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.\n\nSuddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.\n\nThen the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.\n\nAlas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.\n\nThereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.\n\nThey gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead. But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger will not run away from you.\n\nThen the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight. They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.\n\nWhen the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.\n\nThen I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this. Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.\n\nThe robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds.",
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"There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest.",
"She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal.",
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"Suddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.",
"Then the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.",
"Alas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.",
"Thereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead.",
"But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger will not run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight.",
"They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.",
"The robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds."
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},
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{
"term": "twain",
"hint": "twain",
"reason": "Archaic word for 'two', may be unfamiliar."
},
{
"term": "raiment",
"hint": "ray-ment",
"reason": "Less common word for clothing."
},
{
"term": "destined",
"hint": "des-tined",
"reason": "Common word, but may be mispronounced."
},
{
"term": "sprang",
"hint": "sprang",
"reason": "Past tense of 'spring', may be confused with 'sprang' (to swim)."
},
{
"term": "hogshead",
"hint": "hog-shed",
"reason": "Specific large cask, may be unfamiliar."
},
{
"term": "Robber Bridegroom",
"hint": "ROH-buhr BRYD-groom",
"reason": "The title refers to a character who is a criminal and plans to marry a young woman."
}
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"There was once upon a time a miller, who had a beautiful daughter, and as she was grown up, he wished that she was provided for, and well married. He thought, if any good suitor comes and asks for her, I will give her to him. Not long afterwards, a suitor came, who appeared to be very rich, and as the miller had no fault to find with him, he promised his daughter to him. The maiden, however, did not like him quite so much as a girl should like the man to whom she is engaged, and had no confidence in him. Whenever she saw, or thought of him, she felt a secret horror. Once he said to her, you are my betrothed, and yet you have never once paid me a visit. The maiden replied, I know not where your house is. Then said the bridegroom, my house is out there in the dark forest.",
"She tried to excuse herself and said she could not find the way there. The bridegroom said, next sunday you must come out there to me, I have already invited the guests, and I will strew ashes in order that you may find your way through the forest. When sunday came, and the maiden had to set out on her way, she became very uneasy, she herself knew not exactly why, and to mark her way she filled both her pockets full of peas and lentils. Ashes were strewn at the entrance of the forest, and these she followed, but at every step she threw a couple of peas on the ground. She walked almost the whole day until she reached the middle of the forest, where it was the darkest, and there stood a solitary house, which she did not like, for it looked so dark and dismal.",
"She went inside it, but no one was within, and the most absolute stillness reigned.",
"Suddenly a voice cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. The maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird, which was hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here.",
"Then the young maiden went on farther from one room to another, and walked through the whole house, but it was entirely empty and not one human being was to be found. At last she came to the the cellar, and there sat an extremely aged woman, whose head shook constantly. Can you not tell me, said the maiden, if my betrothed lives here.",
"Alas, poor child, replied the old woman, whither have you come. You are in a murderer's den. You think you are a bride soon to be married, but you will keep your wedding with death. Look, I have been forced to put a great kettle on there, with water in it, and when they have you in their power, they will cut you to pieces without mercy, will cook you, and eat you, for they are eaters of human flesh. If I do not have compassion on you, and save you, you are lost.",
"Thereupon the old woman led her behind a great hogshead where she could not be seen. Be still as a mouse, said she, do not make a sound, or move, or all will be over with you. At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will escape, I have long waited for an opportunity. Hardly was this done, than the godless crew came home. They dragged with them another young girl. They were drunk, and paid no heed to her screams and lamentations.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full, one glass of white wine, one glass of red, and a glass of yellow, and with this her heart burst in twain. Thereupon they tore off her delicate raiment, laid her on a table, cut her beautiful body in pieces and strewed salt thereon. The poor bride behind the cask trembled and shook, for she saw right well what fate the robbers had destined for her. One of them noticed a gold ring on the finger of the murdered girl, and as it would not come off at once, he took an axe and cut the finger off, but it sprang up in the air, away over the cask and fell straight into the bride's bosom. The robber took a candle and wanted to look for it, but could not find it. Then another of them said, have you looked behind the great hogshead.",
"But the old woman cried, come and get something to eat, and leave off looking till the morning, the finger will not run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, the old woman is right, and gave up their search, and sat down to eat, and the old woman poured a sleeping-draught in their wine, so that they soon lay down in the cellar, and slept and snored. When the bride heard that, she came out from behind the hogshead, and had to step over the sleepers, for they lay in rows on the ground, and great was her terror lest she should waken one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely over. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they hurried out of the murderer's den with all the speed in their power. The wind had blown away the strewn ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight.",
"They walked the whole night, until in the morning they arrived at the mill, and then the maiden told her father everything exactly as it had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding to be celebrated, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his relations and friends. As they sat at table, each was bidden to relate something. The bride sat still, and said nothing. Then said the bridegroom to the bride, come, my darling, do you know nothing. Relate something to us like the rest. She replied, then I will relate a dream. I was walking alone through a wood, and at last I came to a house, in which no living soul was, but on the wall there was a bird in a cage which cried, turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here. And this it cried once more. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty, and there was something so horrible about them. At last I went down into the cellar, and there sat a very very old woman, whose head shook. I asked her, does my bridegroom live in this house. She answered, alas poor child, you have got into a murderer's den, your bridegroom does live here, but he will hew you in pieces, and kill you, and then he will cook you, and eat you. My darling I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a great hogshead, and scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home, dragging a maiden with them, to whom they gave three kinds of wine to drink, white, red, and yellow, with which her heart broke in twain. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Thereupon they pulled off her pretty clothes, and hewed her fair body in pieces on a table, and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. And one of the robbers saw that there was still a ring on her little finger, and as it was hard to draw off, he took an axe and cut it off, but the finger sprang up in the air, and sprang behind the great hogshead, and fell in my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. And with these words she drew it forth, and showed it to those present.",
"The robber, who had during this story become as pale as ashes, leapt up and wanted to escape, but the guests held him fast, and delivered him over to justice. Then he and his whole troop were executed for their infamous deeds."
],
"child_friendly_title": "The Robber Bridegroom",
"child_friendly_body": [
"Once upon a time, there was a kind miller who had a lovely daughter. When she grew up, he wanted her to be happy and married. He thought, \"If a nice man comes to ask for her hand, I will say yes.\" Soon, a rich man came to visit. The miller liked him very much, so he promised his daughter to him. But the girl did not feel happy about it. She did not trust him at all. Every time she saw him, she felt a little scared. One day, the man said, \"You are my fiancée, but you have never been to my house.\" The girl answered, \"I do not know where you live.\" Then the man smiled and said, \"My house is deep in the dark forest.",
"She tried to say she was lost, but he told her to come visit him next Sunday. He promised to put down soft ashes so she could find her way through the woods. When Sunday came, she felt very nervous. She did not know why, so she put peas and lentils in her pockets to mark her path. She followed the ashes, but she dropped a few seeds on the ground at every step. She walked all day until she reached the middle of the forest. It was very dark there. A lonely house stood in the shadows, and she did not like it. It looked so gloomy and scary.",
"She went inside the house, but no one was there. It was very quiet and still.",
"Suddenly a sweet voice called out, \"Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear. This is a bad man's house.\" The maiden looked up and saw that the voice came from a little bird, which was sitting in a cage on the wall. Again it sang, \"Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear. This is a bad man's house.",
"Then the young girl walked from one room to another, and she looked through the whole house. But it was empty and quiet. She could not see a single person. At last, she went down to the cellar. There sat a very old woman, and her head shook back and forth. \"Can you tell me,\" asked the girl, \"if my fiancé lives here?",
"Oh, poor little thing,\" said the old woman gently. \"Where did you come from? You are in a very dangerous place. You think you are going to get married, but you are going to meet a very bad man. Look, I have a big pot of water boiling on the fire. When they catch you, they will hurt you badly. They will cook you and eat you. They are very scary. If I do not help you, you will be lost forever.",
"The old woman led her behind a big barrel. She told her to be very quiet. She said, \"Do not make a sound, or move. If you do, it will be dangerous.\" She said, \"At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will run away. I have been waiting for a chance to help you.\" Soon, the bad men came home. They brought another girl with them. They were very drunk. They did not listen to her sad cries.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full. One was white, one was red, and one was yellow. With this, her heart felt very sad and broke in two. Then they took off her pretty clothes and put her on a table. They cut her beautiful body into pieces and sprinkled salt on it. The poor bride hid behind the big barrel. She shook with fear because she saw what the robbers were going to do. One robber saw a gold ring on the finger of the girl who was hurt. He tried to pull it off, but it would not move. So, he took an axe and cut the finger off. But then, the finger jumped up in the air! It flew right over the barrel and fell straight into the bride's lap. The robber looked for the ring with a candle, but he could not find it. Then another robber said, \"Did you look behind the big barrel?",
"But the old woman said, \"Come and have a snack. Stop looking for now. The finger will not run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, \"The old woman is right,\" and they stopped looking for her. They sat down to eat, and the old woman put a sleepy potion in their wine. Soon, the robbers fell asleep in the cellar and started to snore loudly. When the bride heard this, she came out from behind the big barrel. She had to step carefully over the sleeping men, for they lay in rows on the floor. She was very scared that she might wake one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely to the other side. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they ran out of the house as fast as they could. The wind had blown away the ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight.",
"They walked all through the night. When the sun came up, they reached the mill. Then, the girl told her father everything that had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his family and friends. They sat down at the table, and everyone was asked to tell a story. The bride sat quietly and did not say a word. Then the bridegroom spoke to her. \"Come, my darling, surely you know something? Tell us a story like the others.\" She replied, \"Very well, I will tell you a dream.\" She said, \"I was walking alone through a dark wood. At last, I came to a house where no one lived. But on the wall, there was a little bird in a cage. It cried out, 'Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, this is a house of danger.' And it cried that again. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty. It felt very strange and a little scary. At last I went down into the cellar. There sat a very, very old woman, and her head shook back and forth. I asked her, \"Does my bridegroom live in this house?\" She answered, \"Oh, poor child, you have walked into a place of bad men. Your bridegroom does live here, but he will hurt you badly. He will cook you and eat you.\" My darling, I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a big barrel. Scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home. They dragged a young girl with them. They gave her three kinds of wine to drink: white, red, and yellow. Her poor heart broke in two. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then they took off her nice clothes. They cut her soft body into pieces on a table and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. One robber saw a ring on her little finger. It was hard to pull it off, so he took an axe and cut it off. But the finger jumped up in the air! It hopped behind the big barrel and fell right into my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. With these words, she pulled it out and showed it to everyone.",
"The robber looked very pale and scared. He tried to run away, but the guests held him tight. They gave him to the police. Then, the whole group of robbers was sent away. They learned that doing bad things is not okay."
],
"child_friendly_text": "Once upon a time, there was a kind miller who had a lovely daughter. When she grew up, he wanted her to be happy and married. He thought, \"If a nice man comes to ask for her hand, I will say yes.\" Soon, a rich man came to visit. The miller liked him very much, so he promised his daughter to him. But the girl did not feel happy about it. She did not trust him at all. Every time she saw him, she felt a little scared. One day, the man said, \"You are my fiancée, but you have never been to my house.\" The girl answered, \"I do not know where you live.\" Then the man smiled and said, \"My house is deep in the dark forest.\n\nShe tried to say she was lost, but he told her to come visit him next Sunday. He promised to put down soft ashes so she could find her way through the woods. When Sunday came, she felt very nervous. She did not know why, so she put peas and lentils in her pockets to mark her path. She followed the ashes, but she dropped a few seeds on the ground at every step. She walked all day until she reached the middle of the forest. It was very dark there. A lonely house stood in the shadows, and she did not like it. It looked so gloomy and scary.\n\nShe went inside the house, but no one was there. It was very quiet and still.\n\nSuddenly a sweet voice called out, \"Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear. This is a bad man's house.\" The maiden looked up and saw that the voice came from a little bird, which was sitting in a cage on the wall. Again it sang, \"Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear. This is a bad man's house.\n\nThen the young girl walked from one room to another, and she looked through the whole house. But it was empty and quiet. She could not see a single person. At last, she went down to the cellar. There sat a very old woman, and her head shook back and forth. \"Can you tell me,\" asked the girl, \"if my fiancé lives here?\n\nOh, poor little thing,\" said the old woman gently. \"Where did you come from? You are in a very dangerous place. You think you are going to get married, but you are going to meet a very bad man. Look, I have a big pot of water boiling on the fire. When they catch you, they will hurt you badly. They will cook you and eat you. They are very scary. If I do not help you, you will be lost forever.\n\nThe old woman led her behind a big barrel. She told her to be very quiet. She said, \"Do not make a sound, or move. If you do, it will be dangerous.\" She said, \"At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will run away. I have been waiting for a chance to help you.\" Soon, the bad men came home. They brought another girl with them. They were very drunk. They did not listen to her sad cries.\n\nThey gave her wine to drink, three glasses full. One was white, one was red, and one was yellow. With this, her heart felt very sad and broke in two. Then they took off her pretty clothes and put her on a table. They cut her beautiful body into pieces and sprinkled salt on it. The poor bride hid behind the big barrel. She shook with fear because she saw what the robbers were going to do. One robber saw a gold ring on the finger of the girl who was hurt. He tried to pull it off, but it would not move. So, he took an axe and cut the finger off. But then, the finger jumped up in the air! It flew right over the barrel and fell straight into the bride's lap. The robber looked for the ring with a candle, but he could not find it. Then another robber said, \"Did you look behind the big barrel?\n\nBut the old woman said, \"Come and have a snack. Stop looking for now. The finger will not run away from you.\n\nThen the robbers said, \"The old woman is right,\" and they stopped looking for her. They sat down to eat, and the old woman put a sleepy potion in their wine. Soon, the robbers fell asleep in the cellar and started to snore loudly. When the bride heard this, she came out from behind the big barrel. She had to step carefully over the sleeping men, for they lay in rows on the floor. She was very scared that she might wake one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely to the other side. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they ran out of the house as fast as they could. The wind had blown away the ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight.\n\nThey walked all through the night. When the sun came up, they reached the mill. Then, the girl told her father everything that had happened.\n\nWhen the day came for the wedding, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his family and friends. They sat down at the table, and everyone was asked to tell a story. The bride sat quietly and did not say a word. Then the bridegroom spoke to her. \"Come, my darling, surely you know something? Tell us a story like the others.\" She replied, \"Very well, I will tell you a dream.\" She said, \"I was walking alone through a dark wood. At last, I came to a house where no one lived. But on the wall, there was a little bird in a cage. It cried out, 'Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, this is a house of danger.' And it cried that again. My darling, I only dreamt this.\n\nThen I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty. It felt very strange and a little scary. At last I went down into the cellar. There sat a very, very old woman, and her head shook back and forth. I asked her, \"Does my bridegroom live in this house?\" She answered, \"Oh, poor child, you have walked into a place of bad men. Your bridegroom does live here, but he will hurt you badly. He will cook you and eat you.\" My darling, I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a big barrel. Scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home. They dragged a young girl with them. They gave her three kinds of wine to drink: white, red, and yellow. Her poor heart broke in two. My darling, I only dreamt this.\n\nThen they took off her nice clothes. They cut her soft body into pieces on a table and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. One robber saw a ring on her little finger. It was hard to pull it off, so he took an axe and cut it off. But the finger jumped up in the air! It hopped behind the big barrel and fell right into my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. With these words, she pulled it out and showed it to everyone.\n\nThe robber looked very pale and scared. He tried to run away, but the guests held him tight. They gave him to the police. Then, the whole group of robbers was sent away. They learned that doing bad things is not okay.",
"child_friendly_chunks": [
"Once upon a time, there was a kind miller who had a lovely daughter. When she grew up, he wanted her to be happy and married. He thought, \"If a nice man comes to ask for her hand, I will say yes.\" Soon, a rich man came to visit. The miller liked him very much, so he promised his daughter to him. But the girl did not feel happy about it. She did not trust him at all. Every time she saw him, she felt a little scared. One day, the man said, \"You are my fiancée, but you have never been to my house.\" The girl answered, \"I do not know where you live.\" Then the man smiled and said, \"My house is deep in the dark forest.",
"She tried to say she was lost, but he told her to come visit him next Sunday. He promised to put down soft ashes so she could find her way through the woods. When Sunday came, she felt very nervous. She did not know why, so she put peas and lentils in her pockets to mark her path. She followed the ashes, but she dropped a few seeds on the ground at every step. She walked all day until she reached the middle of the forest. It was very dark there. A lonely house stood in the shadows, and she did not like it. It looked so gloomy and scary.",
"She went inside the house, but no one was there. It was very quiet and still.",
"Suddenly a sweet voice called out, \"Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear. This is a bad man's house.\" The maiden looked up and saw that the voice came from a little bird, which was sitting in a cage on the wall. Again it sang, \"Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear. This is a bad man's house.",
"Then the young girl walked from one room to another, and she looked through the whole house. But it was empty and quiet. She could not see a single person. At last, she went down to the cellar. There sat a very old woman, and her head shook back and forth. \"Can you tell me,\" asked the girl, \"if my fiancé lives here?",
"Oh, poor little thing,\" said the old woman gently. \"Where did you come from? You are in a very dangerous place. You think you are going to get married, but you are going to meet a very bad man. Look, I have a big pot of water boiling on the fire. When they catch you, they will hurt you badly. They will cook you and eat you. They are very scary. If I do not help you, you will be lost forever.",
"The old woman led her behind a big barrel. She told her to be very quiet. She said, \"Do not make a sound, or move. If you do, it will be dangerous.\" She said, \"At night, when the robbers are asleep, we will run away. I have been waiting for a chance to help you.\" Soon, the bad men came home. They brought another girl with them. They were very drunk. They did not listen to her sad cries.",
"They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full. One was white, one was red, and one was yellow. With this, her heart felt very sad and broke in two. Then they took off her pretty clothes and put her on a table. They cut her beautiful body into pieces and sprinkled salt on it. The poor bride hid behind the big barrel. She shook with fear because she saw what the robbers were going to do. One robber saw a gold ring on the finger of the girl who was hurt. He tried to pull it off, but it would not move. So, he took an axe and cut the finger off. But then, the finger jumped up in the air! It flew right over the barrel and fell straight into the bride's lap. The robber looked for the ring with a candle, but he could not find it. Then another robber said, \"Did you look behind the big barrel?",
"But the old woman said, \"Come and have a snack. Stop looking for now. The finger will not run away from you.",
"Then the robbers said, \"The old woman is right,\" and they stopped looking for her. They sat down to eat, and the old woman put a sleepy potion in their wine. Soon, the robbers fell asleep in the cellar and started to snore loudly. When the bride heard this, she came out from behind the big barrel. She had to step carefully over the sleeping men, for they lay in rows on the floor. She was very scared that she might wake one of them. But God helped her, and she got safely to the other side. The old woman went up with her, opened the doors, and they ran out of the house as fast as they could. The wind had blown away the ashes, but the peas and lentils had sprouted and grown up, and showed them the way in the moonlight.",
"They walked all through the night. When the sun came up, they reached the mill. Then, the girl told her father everything that had happened.",
"When the day came for the wedding, the bridegroom appeared, and the miller had invited all his family and friends. They sat down at the table, and everyone was asked to tell a story. The bride sat quietly and did not say a word. Then the bridegroom spoke to her. \"Come, my darling, surely you know something? Tell us a story like the others.\" She replied, \"Very well, I will tell you a dream.\" She said, \"I was walking alone through a dark wood. At last, I came to a house where no one lived. But on the wall, there was a little bird in a cage. It cried out, 'Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, this is a house of danger.' And it cried that again. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then I went through all the rooms, and they were all empty. It felt very strange and a little scary. At last I went down into the cellar. There sat a very, very old woman, and her head shook back and forth. I asked her, \"Does my bridegroom live in this house?\" She answered, \"Oh, poor child, you have walked into a place of bad men. Your bridegroom does live here, but he will hurt you badly. He will cook you and eat you.\" My darling, I only dreamt this. But the old woman hid me behind a big barrel. Scarcely was I hidden, when the robbers came home. They dragged a young girl with them. They gave her three kinds of wine to drink: white, red, and yellow. Her poor heart broke in two. My darling, I only dreamt this.",
"Then they took off her nice clothes. They cut her soft body into pieces on a table and sprinkled them with salt. My darling, I only dreamt this. One robber saw a ring on her little finger. It was hard to pull it off, so he took an axe and cut it off. But the finger jumped up in the air! It hopped behind the big barrel and fell right into my bosom. And there is the finger with the ring. With these words, she pulled it out and showed it to everyone.",
"The robber looked very pale and scared. He tried to run away, but the guests held him tight. They gave him to the police. Then, the whole group of robbers was sent away. They learned that doing bad things is not okay."
],
"v3_model": "glm-4.7-flash:q4_K_M",
"v3_flags": []
}