Godfather Death

{
  "cleanup_version": "v3",
  "cleanup_mode": "child_simplification",
  "source_file": "story.json",
  "source_v1_file": "story_v1.json",
  "source_sha256": "a1fcdd9c7716052904a1b39c55c39eaf94c0fd4eb275b556f01816348783b6fd",
  "source_v1_sha256": "45aa3fdcbb7c3b269cb4d819b0657cfee4a45844f130908515f369876100d93f",
  "source_title": "Godfather Death",
  "tts_title": "Godfather Death",
  "speech_safe_title": "Godfather Death",
  "kind": "story",
  "canonical_url": "https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/033.txt",
  "slug": "godfather-death",
  "story_dirname": "033-godfather-death",
  "section_slug": null,
  "title": "Godfather Death",
  "author": null,
  "publisher_label": null,
  "source_version": null,
  "content_type": null,
  "language": null,
  "summary": null,
  "clean_summary": null,
  "body": [
    "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther. Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time. Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.",
    "It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it. He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.",
    "But death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.",
    "Soon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives. The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death."
  ],
  "body_text": "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther. Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time. Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.\n\nIt was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it. He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.\n\nBut death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.\n\nSoon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.\n\nWhen death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives. The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death.",
  "clean_body": [
    "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther. Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time. Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.",
    "It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it. He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.",
    "But death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.",
    "Soon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives. The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death."
  ],
  "clean_text": "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther. Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time. Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.\n\nIt was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it. He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.\n\nBut death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.\n\nSoon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.\n\nWhen death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives. The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death.",
  "tts_chunks": [
    "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther.",
    "Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time.",
    "Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.",
    "It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it.",
    "He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.",
    "But death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.",
    "Soon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain.",
    "Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives.",
    "The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician.",
    "Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death."
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    "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther. Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time. Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.",
    "It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it. He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.",
    "But death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.",
    "Soon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives. The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death."
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  "speech_safe_text": "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther. Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time. Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.\n\nIt was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it. He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.\n\nBut death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.\n\nSoon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.\n\nWhen death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives. The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death.",
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    "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther.",
    "Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time.",
    "Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.",
    "It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it.",
    "He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.",
    "But death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.",
    "Soon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain.",
    "Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives.",
    "The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician.",
    "Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death."
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    "A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth. The man said, who are you. I am God. Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather, said the man, you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger. Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther.",
    "Then the devil came to him and said, what do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well. The man asked, who are you. I am the devil. Then I do not desire to have you for godfather, said the man, you deceive men and lead them astray. He went onwards, and then came death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, take me as godfather. The man asked, who are you. I am death, and I make all equal. Then said the man, you are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction, you shall be godfather. Death answered, I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing. The man said, next sunday is the christening, be there at the right time.",
    "Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way. When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, now you shall receive your godfather's present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover, but if I stand by the patient's feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.",
    "It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, whether he would recover, or must needs die. So they said of him, and from far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man. Now it so befell that the king became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him. If I could but cheat death for once, thought the physician, he is sure to take it ill if I do but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye, I will risk it.",
    "He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now death was standing by his head. Then he gave the king some of the herbs, and he recovered and grew healthy again.",
    "But death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, you have betrayed me, this time I will pardon it, as you are my godson, but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.",
    "Soon afterwards the king's daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl's bed, he saw death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the king's daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain.",
    "Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When death saw that for a second time his own property had been misused, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, all is over with you, and now the lot falls on you, and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, some medium-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change. See, said death, these are the lights of men's lives.",
    "The large ones belong to children, the medium-sized ones to married people in their prime, the little ones belong to old people, but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle. Show me the light of my life, said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, behold, it is there. Ah, dear godfather, said the horrified physician, light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be king, and the husband of the king's beautiful daughter. I cannot, answered death, one must go out before a new one is lighted. Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end, pleaded the physician.",
    "Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle, but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground, and now he himself was in the hands of death."
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  "child_friendly_title": "Godfather Death",
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    "A poor man had twelve children and worked very hard to give them food. When the thirteenth baby was born, he did not know what to do. He ran out to the road and decided to ask the first person he met to be the baby's godfather. The first person he saw was a kind man who knew his heart was sad. The man said, \"Poor man, I feel sorry for you. I will hold your baby at the special ceremony. I will take care of the child and make him happy on Earth.\"\n\nThe poor man asked, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am God,\" the man answered.\n\n\"Then I do not want you to be his godfather,\" the man said. \"You give food to the rich, and leave the poor to be hungry.\"\n\nThe man spoke this way because he did not know how God shares good things. He turned away from the Lord and walked farther down the road.",
    "Then a dark figure came to him and asked, \"What do you seek? If you take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him lots of gold and all the happy things in the world.\"\n\nThe man asked, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am the dark spirit,\" the figure said.\n\n\"I do not want you for a godfather,\" the man said. \"You trick people and lead them the wrong way.\"\n\nHe walked on, and then a tall man with a long face came up to him. He said, \"Take me as a godfather.\"\n\nThe man asked, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am Death,\" the man said. \"I make everyone equal in the end.\"\n\nThen the man said, \"You are the right one. You take the rich and the poor alike. You shall be godfather.\"\n\nDeath answered, \"I will make your child rich and famous. For anyone who has me as a friend will never want for anything.\"\n\nThe man said, \"Next Sunday is the christening. Please be there at the right time.",
    "Death came to him as he had promised. He stood by the boy and became his godfather just like any other. When the boy grew up, his godfather came to visit him one day. He asked the boy to come with him. They walked deep into a forest. There, Death showed him a special herb growing on the ground.\n\n\"Here is your special gift,\" Death said softly. \"I will make you a famous doctor. When you go to help a sick person, I will be there with you. If I stand by the sick person's head, you can use this herb to make them feel better. But if I stand by their feet, they are going to sleep forever. You must say that no one can save them. Please be careful and never use the herb when I do not want you to.",
    "Soon, the young man became the most famous doctor in the whole world. He only had to look at a sick person to know how they were feeling. He could tell if they would get better or if they needed to rest. People came from far away to see him. They sent for him when someone was sick, and they gave him so much money that he became a rich man.\n\nOne day, the King became very ill. The doctor was called to the castle to see if the King could get better. When the doctor came to the bed, he saw a dark shadow standing by the King's feet. The doctor knew that no herb could help the King now. \"If I could just trick Death for once,\" the doctor thought, \"he will be angry, but since I am his godson, he will forgive me. I will take the chance.",
    "So, he picked up the sick man and turned him over. Now, Death was standing right by his head. Then, the godfather gave the king some of the magic herbs. The king ate them, and he got better. He felt strong and healthy again.",
    "But Death came to the doctor. He looked very dark and angry. He pointed a finger at the doctor. He said, \"You broke our promise. I will forgive you this time because you are my godson. But if you do it again, it will be very bad. I will take you away with me forever.",
    "Soon after, the king's only daughter got very sick. She was his precious child, and he cried day and night. He cried so much that he could hardly see. He made a promise to anyone who could save her: they would become her husband and get the kingdom. When the doctor came to her bed, he saw a dark shadow by her feet. He should have remembered his godfather's warning. But he was so enchanted by the girl's beauty and the thought of being her prince that he forgot everything else. He did not notice the shadow looking at him angrily. He did not see the dark shadow raising a hand to stop him. He just wanted to save her. He lifted the sick girl up and put her head where the shadow had been.",
    "Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When Death saw that his own special gift had been used wrongly again, he walked up to the doctor with big steps. He said, \"It is all over for you now. The time has come for you to go with me.\" Death grabbed the doctor with his very cold hand. The doctor could not move. Death led him down into a dark cave. There, he saw thousands of candles burning in long lines. Some were big, some were small, and some were in the middle. The candles burned very bright, but then they went out. The flames danced back and forth like they were playing. \"Look,\" said Death. \"These are the lights of people's lives.",
    "The biggest candles are for children. The medium ones are for grown-ups who are married. The small ones are for old people. But children and young people often have very tiny candles, too. \"Show me the light of my life,\" said the doctor. He thought his candle would be very tall. Death pointed to a small end that was just about to go out. \"Behold, it is there,\" said Death. \"Oh, dear godfather,\" said the doctor, looking at the tiny flame. \"Light a new one for me, please. Do it for love of me. I want to enjoy my life, be a king, and marry the beautiful princess.\" \"I cannot,\" answered Death. \"One candle must go out before a new one is lit.\" \"Then put the old candle on top of a new one,\" begged the doctor. \"That way, the new one will keep burning right away when the old one is gone.",
    "Death acted like he would do what the doctor asked. He took a tall, fresh candle. But he wanted to be mean. He made a small mistake when he lit it. A tiny piece of the candle fell down and went out. The doctor fell to the floor right away. Now, the doctor was in Death’s hands."
  ],
  "child_friendly_text": "A poor man had twelve children and worked very hard to give them food. When the thirteenth baby was born, he did not know what to do. He ran out to the road and decided to ask the first person he met to be the baby's godfather. The first person he saw was a kind man who knew his heart was sad. The man said, \"Poor man, I feel sorry for you. I will hold your baby at the special ceremony. I will take care of the child and make him happy on Earth.\"\n\nThe poor man asked, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am God,\" the man answered.\n\n\"Then I do not want you to be his godfather,\" the man said. \"You give food to the rich, and leave the poor to be hungry.\"\n\nThe man spoke this way because he did not know how God shares good things. He turned away from the Lord and walked farther down the road.\n\nThen a dark figure came to him and asked, \"What do you seek? If you take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him lots of gold and all the happy things in the world.\"\n\nThe man asked, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am the dark spirit,\" the figure said.\n\n\"I do not want you for a godfather,\" the man said. \"You trick people and lead them the wrong way.\"\n\nHe walked on, and then a tall man with a long face came up to him. He said, \"Take me as a godfather.\"\n\nThe man asked, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am Death,\" the man said. \"I make everyone equal in the end.\"\n\nThen the man said, \"You are the right one. You take the rich and the poor alike. You shall be godfather.\"\n\nDeath answered, \"I will make your child rich and famous. For anyone who has me as a friend will never want for anything.\"\n\nThe man said, \"Next Sunday is the christening. Please be there at the right time.\n\nDeath came to him as he had promised. He stood by the boy and became his godfather just like any other. When the boy grew up, his godfather came to visit him one day. He asked the boy to come with him. They walked deep into a forest. There, Death showed him a special herb growing on the ground.\n\n\"Here is your special gift,\" Death said softly. \"I will make you a famous doctor. When you go to help a sick person, I will be there with you. If I stand by the sick person's head, you can use this herb to make them feel better. But if I stand by their feet, they are going to sleep forever. You must say that no one can save them. Please be careful and never use the herb when I do not want you to.\n\nSoon, the young man became the most famous doctor in the whole world. He only had to look at a sick person to know how they were feeling. He could tell if they would get better or if they needed to rest. People came from far away to see him. They sent for him when someone was sick, and they gave him so much money that he became a rich man.\n\nOne day, the King became very ill. The doctor was called to the castle to see if the King could get better. When the doctor came to the bed, he saw a dark shadow standing by the King's feet. The doctor knew that no herb could help the King now. \"If I could just trick Death for once,\" the doctor thought, \"he will be angry, but since I am his godson, he will forgive me. I will take the chance.\n\nSo, he picked up the sick man and turned him over. Now, Death was standing right by his head. Then, the godfather gave the king some of the magic herbs. The king ate them, and he got better. He felt strong and healthy again.\n\nBut Death came to the doctor. He looked very dark and angry. He pointed a finger at the doctor. He said, \"You broke our promise. I will forgive you this time because you are my godson. But if you do it again, it will be very bad. I will take you away with me forever.\n\nSoon after, the king's only daughter got very sick. She was his precious child, and he cried day and night. He cried so much that he could hardly see. He made a promise to anyone who could save her: they would become her husband and get the kingdom. When the doctor came to her bed, he saw a dark shadow by her feet. He should have remembered his godfather's warning. But he was so enchanted by the girl's beauty and the thought of being her prince that he forgot everything else. He did not notice the shadow looking at him angrily. He did not see the dark shadow raising a hand to stop him. He just wanted to save her. He lifted the sick girl up and put her head where the shadow had been.\n\nThen he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.\n\nWhen Death saw that his own special gift had been used wrongly again, he walked up to the doctor with big steps. He said, \"It is all over for you now. The time has come for you to go with me.\" Death grabbed the doctor with his very cold hand. The doctor could not move. Death led him down into a dark cave. There, he saw thousands of candles burning in long lines. Some were big, some were small, and some were in the middle. The candles burned very bright, but then they went out. The flames danced back and forth like they were playing. \"Look,\" said Death. \"These are the lights of people's lives.\n\nThe biggest candles are for children. The medium ones are for grown-ups who are married. The small ones are for old people. But children and young people often have very tiny candles, too. \"Show me the light of my life,\" said the doctor. He thought his candle would be very tall. Death pointed to a small end that was just about to go out. \"Behold, it is there,\" said Death. \"Oh, dear godfather,\" said the doctor, looking at the tiny flame. \"Light a new one for me, please. Do it for love of me. I want to enjoy my life, be a king, and marry the beautiful princess.\" \"I cannot,\" answered Death. \"One candle must go out before a new one is lit.\" \"Then put the old candle on top of a new one,\" begged the doctor. \"That way, the new one will keep burning right away when the old one is gone.\n\nDeath acted like he would do what the doctor asked. He took a tall, fresh candle. But he wanted to be mean. He made a small mistake when he lit it. A tiny piece of the candle fell down and went out. The doctor fell to the floor right away. Now, the doctor was in Death’s hands.",
  "child_friendly_chunks": [
    "A poor man had twelve children and worked very hard to give them food. When the thirteenth baby was born, he did not know what to do. He ran out to the road and decided to ask the first person he met to be the baby's godfather. The first person he saw was a kind man who knew his heart was sad. The man said, \"Poor man, I feel sorry for you. I will hold your baby at the special ceremony. I will take care of the child and make him happy on Earth.\"\n\nThe poor man asked, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I am God,\" the man answered.\n\n\"Then I do not want you to be his godfather,\" the man said. \"You give food to the rich, and leave the poor to be hungry.\"\n\nThe man spoke this way because he did not know how God shares good things. He turned away from the Lord and walked farther down the road.",
    "Then a dark figure came to him and asked, \"What do you seek? If you take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him lots of gold and all the happy things in the world.\" The man asked, \"Who are you?\" \"I am the dark spirit,\" the figure said. \"I do not want you for a godfather,\" the man said. \"You trick people and lead them the wrong way.\" He walked on, and then a tall man with a long face came up to him. He said, \"Take me as a godfather.\" The man asked, \"Who are you?\" \"I am Death,\" the man said. \"I make everyone equal in the end.\" Then the man said, \"You are the right one. You take the rich and the poor alike. You shall be godfather.\" Death answered, \"I will make your child rich and famous. For anyone who has me as a friend will never want for anything.\"",
    "The man said, \"Next Sunday is the christening. Please be there at the right time.",
    "Death came to him as he had promised. He stood by the boy and became his godfather just like any other. When the boy grew up, his godfather came to visit him one day. He asked the boy to come with him. They walked deep into a forest. There, Death showed him a special herb growing on the ground.\n\n\"Here is your special gift,\" Death said softly. \"I will make you a famous doctor. When you go to help a sick person, I will be there with you. If I stand by the sick person's head, you can use this herb to make them feel better. But if I stand by their feet, they are going to sleep forever. You must say that no one can save them. Please be careful and never use the herb when I do not want you to.",
    "Soon, the young man became the most famous doctor in the whole world. He only had to look at a sick person to know how they were feeling. He could tell if they would get better or if they needed to rest. People came from far away to see him. They sent for him when someone was sick, and they gave him so much money that he became a rich man.\n\nOne day, the King became very ill. The doctor was called to the castle to see if the King could get better. When the doctor came to the bed, he saw a dark shadow standing by the King's feet. The doctor knew that no herb could help the King now. \"If I could just trick Death for once,\" the doctor thought, \"he will be angry, but since I am his godson, he will forgive me. I will take the chance.",
    "So, he picked up the sick man and turned him over. Now, Death was standing right by his head. Then, the godfather gave the king some of the magic herbs. The king ate them, and he got better. He felt strong and healthy again.",
    "But Death came to the doctor. He looked very dark and angry. He pointed a finger at the doctor. He said, \"You broke our promise. I will forgive you this time because you are my godson. But if you do it again, it will be very bad. I will take you away with me forever.",
    "Soon after, the king's only daughter got very sick. She was his precious child, and he cried day and night. He cried so much that he could hardly see. He made a promise to anyone who could save her: they would become her husband and get the kingdom. When the doctor came to her bed, he saw a dark shadow by her feet. He should have remembered his godfather's warning. But he was so enchanted by the girl's beauty and the thought of being her prince that he forgot everything else. He did not notice the shadow looking at him angrily. He did not see the dark shadow raising a hand to stop him. He just wanted to save her. He lifted the sick girl up and put her head where the shadow had been.",
    "Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.",
    "When Death saw that his own special gift had been used wrongly again, he walked up to the doctor with big steps. He said, \"It is all over for you now. The time has come for you to go with me.\" Death grabbed the doctor with his very cold hand. The doctor could not move. Death led him down into a dark cave. There, he saw thousands of candles burning in long lines. Some were big, some were small, and some were in the middle. The candles burned very bright, but then they went out. The flames danced back and forth like they were playing. \"Look,\" said Death. \"These are the lights of people's lives.",
    "The biggest candles are for children. The medium ones are for grown-ups who are married. The small ones are for old people. But children and young people often have very tiny candles, too. \"Show me the light of my life,\" said the doctor. He thought his candle would be very tall. Death pointed to a small end that was just about to go out. \"Behold, it is there,\" said Death. \"Oh, dear godfather,\" said the doctor, looking at the tiny flame. \"Light a new one for me, please. Do it for love of me. I want to enjoy my life, be a king, and marry the beautiful princess.\" \"I cannot,\" answered Death. \"One candle must go out before a new one is lit.\" \"Then put the old candle on top of a new one,\" begged the doctor. \"That way, the new one will keep burning right away when the old one is gone.",
    "Death acted like he would do what the doctor asked. He took a tall, fresh candle. But he wanted to be mean. He made a small mistake when he lit it. A tiny piece of the candle fell down and went out. The doctor fell to the floor right away. Now, the doctor was in Death’s hands."
  ],
  "v3_model": "glm-4.7-flash:q4_K_M",
  "v3_flags": []
}