Raw JSON
{
"cleanup_version": "v3",
"cleanup_mode": "child_simplification",
"source_file": "story.json",
"source_v1_file": "story_v1.json",
"source_sha256": "cb5cbd9517c83fb78184bc2167d76b9a34f60e4db639d686f949f7371504f314",
"source_v1_sha256": "8a106282e40e5b6c949e2d9b31b5df8cb178c15b1c2fd89d9135ad16b06f1619",
"source_title": "Bearskin",
"tts_title": "Bearskin",
"speech_safe_title": "Bearskin",
"kind": "story",
"canonical_url": "https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/076.txt",
"slug": "bearskin",
"story_dirname": "076-bearskin",
"section_slug": null,
"title": "Bearskin",
"author": null,
"publisher_label": null,
"source_version": null,
"content_type": null,
"language": null,
"summary": null,
"clean_summary": null,
"body": [
"There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.",
"He came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\" he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\" \"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\" Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.",
"The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.",
"During the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.",
"In the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\" He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.",
"When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves. If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"",
"The poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.",
"At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word. When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.",
"The stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss. In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\""
],
"body_text": "There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.\n\nHe came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\" he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\" \"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\" Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.\n\nThe soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.\n\nDuring the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.\n\nIn the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.\n\nAs Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\" He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.\n\nWhen the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves. If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"\n\nThe poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.\n\nAt length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.\n\nWhen the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word. When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.\n\nThe stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss. In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\"",
"clean_body": [
"There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.",
"He came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\" he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\" \"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\" Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.",
"The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.",
"During the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.",
"In the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\" He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.",
"When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves. If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"",
"The poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.",
"At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word. When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.",
"The stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss. In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\""
],
"clean_text": "There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.\n\nHe came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\" he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\" \"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\" Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.\n\nThe soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.\n\nDuring the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.\n\nIn the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.\n\nAs Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\" He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.\n\nWhen the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves. If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"\n\nThe poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.\n\nAt length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.\n\nWhen the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word. When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.\n\nThe stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss. In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\"",
"tts_chunks": [
"There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.",
"He came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\"",
"he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\"",
"\"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\"",
"Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.",
"The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.",
"During the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.",
"In the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\"",
"He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.",
"When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves.",
"If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"",
"The poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.",
"At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word.",
"When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.",
"The stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss.",
"In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\""
],
"speech_safe_body": [
"There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.",
"He came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\" he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\" \"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\" Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.",
"The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.",
"During the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.",
"In the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\" He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.",
"When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves. If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"",
"The poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.",
"At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word. When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.",
"The stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss. In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\""
],
"speech_safe_text": "There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.\n\nHe came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\" he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\" \"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\" Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.\n\nThe soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.\n\nDuring the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.\n\nIn the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.\n\nAs Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\" He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.\n\nWhen the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves. If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"\n\nThe poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.\n\nAt length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.\n\nWhen the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word. When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.\n\nThe stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss. In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\"",
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"There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.",
"He came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\"",
"he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\"",
"\"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\"",
"Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.",
"The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.",
"During the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.",
"In the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\"",
"He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.",
"When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves.",
"If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"",
"The poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.",
"At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word.",
"When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.",
"The stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss.",
"In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\""
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"There was once a young fellow who enlisted as a soldier, conducted himself bravely, and was always the foremost when it rained bullets. So long as the war lasted, all went well, but when peace was made, he received his dismissal, and the captain said he might go where he liked. His parents were dead, and he had no longer a home, so he went to his brothers and begged them to take him in, and keep him until war broke out again. The brothers, however, were hard-hearted and said, \"What can we do with you? You are of no use to us, go and make a living for yourself.\" The soldier had nothing left but his gun, so he took that on his shoulder, and went forth into the world.",
"He came to a wide heath, on which nothing was to be seen but a circle of trees, under these he sat sorrowfully down, and began to think over his fate. I have no money, thought he, I have learnt no trade but that of fighting, and now that they have made peace they don't want me any longer, so I see before hand that I shall have to starve. All at once he heard a rustling and when he looked round, a strange man stood before him, who wore a green coat and looked right stately, but had a hideous cloven foot. \"I know already what you are in need of,\" said the man, \"gold and possessions shall you have, as much as you can make away with, do what you will, but first I must know if you are fearless, that I may not bestow my money in vain.\" \"A soldier and fear - how can those two things go together?\"",
"he answered, \"You can put me to the proof.\" \"Very well, then,\" answered the man, \"look behind you.\" The soldier turned round, and saw a large bear, which came growling towards him. \"Oho,\" cried the soldier, \"I will tickle your nose for you, so that you shall soon lose your fancy for growling,\" and he aimed at the bear and shot it through the muzzle, it fell down and never stirred again. \"I see quite well,\" said the stranger, \"that you are not wanting in courage, but there is still another condition which you will have to fulfil.\" \"If it does not endanger my salvation,\" replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. \"If it does, I'll have nothing to do with it.\"",
"\"You will look to that for yourself,\" answered greencoat, \"you shall for the next seven years neither wash yourself, nor comb your beard, nor your hair, nor cut your nails, nor once say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a coat and a cloak, which during this time you must wear. If you die during these seven years, you are mine, if you remain alive, you are free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of your life.\" The soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. The devil took off his green coat, and gave it to the soldier, and said, \"If you have this coat on your back and put your hand into the pocket, you will always find it full of money.\"",
"Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, \"This shall be your cloak, and your bed also, for thereon shall you sleep, and and in no other bed shall you lie, and because of this apparel shall you be called Bearskin.\" Whereupon the devil vanished.",
"The soldier put the coat on, felt at once in the pocket, and found that the thing was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went forth into the world, and enjoyed himself, refraining from nothing that did him good and his money harm.",
"During the first year his appearance was passable, but during the second he began to look like a monster. His hair covered nearly the whole of his face, his beard was like a piece of coarse felt, his fingers had claws, and his face was so covered with dirt that if cress had been sown on it, it would have come up. Whosoever saw him, ran away, but as he everywhere gave the poor money to pray that he might not die during the seven years, and as he paid well for everything he still always found shelter.",
"In the fourth year, he entered an inn where the landlord would not receive him, and would not even let him have a place in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would be scared. But as Bearskin thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of ducats, the host let himself be persuaded and gave him a room in an outhouse. Bearskin, however, was obliged to promise not to let himself be seen, lest the inn should get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin was sitting alone in the evening, and wishing from the bottom of his heart that the seven years were over, he heard a loud lamenting in a neighboring room. He had a compassionate heart, so he opened the door, and saw an old man weeping bitterly, and wringing his hands. Bearskin went nearer, but the man sprang to his feet and tried to escape from him. At last when the man perceived that Bearskin's voice was human he let himself be prevailed upon, and by kind words bearskin succeeded so far that the old man revealed the cause of his grief. His property had dwindled away by degrees, he and his daughters would have to starve, and he was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper, and was to be put in prison. \"If that is your only trouble,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\"",
"He caused the innkeeper to be brought thither, paid him and even put a purse full of gold into the poor old man's pocket.",
"When the old man saw himself set free from all his troubles he did not know how to show his gratitude. \"Come with me,\" said he to Bearskin, \"my daughters are all miracles of beauty, choose one of them for yourself as a wife. When she hears what you have done for me, she will not refuse you. You do in truth look a little strange, but she will soon put you to rights again.\" This pleased Bearskin well, and he went. When the eldest saw him she was so terribly alarmed at his face that she screamed and ran away. The second stood still and looked at him from head to foot, but then she said, \"How can I accept a husband who no longer has a human form? The shaven bear that once was here and passed itself off for a man pleased me far better, for at any rate it wore a hussar's dress and white gloves.",
"If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest, however, said, \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you out of your trouble, so if you have promised him a bride for doing it, your promise must be kept.\" It was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered with dirt and with hair, for if not they might have seen how delighted he was when he heard these words. He took a ring from his finger, broke it in two, and gave her one half, the other he kept for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half, and hers on his, and begged her to keep her piece carefully. Then he took his leave and said, \"I must still wander about for three years, and if I do not return then, you are free, for I shall be dead. But pray to God to preserve my life.\"",
"The poor betrothed bride dressed herself entirely in black, and when she thought of her future bridegroom, tears came into her eyes. Nothing but contempt and mockery fell to her lot from her sisters. \"Take care,\" said the eldest, \"if you give him your hand, he will strike his claws into it.\" \"Beware,\" said the second. \"Bears like sweet things, and if he takes a fancy to you, he will eat you up.\" \"You must always do as he likes,\" began the elder again, or else he will growl.\" And the second continued, \"But the wedding will be a merry one, for bears dance well.\" The bride was silent, and did not let them vex her. Bearskin, however, traveled about the world from one place to another, did good where he was able, and gave generously to the poor that they might pray for him.",
"At length, as the last day of the seven years dawned, he went once more out on to the heath, and seated himself beneath the circle of trees. It was not long before the wind whistled, and the devil stood before him and looked angrily at him, then he threw bearskin his coat, and asked for his own green one back. \"We have not got so far as that yet,\" answered Bearskin, \"you must first make me clean.\" Whether the devil liked it or not, he was forced to fetch water, and wash Bearskin, comb his hair, and cut his nails. After this, he looked like a brave soldier, and was much handsomer than he had ever been before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin was quite lighthearted. He went into the town, put on a magnificent velvet coat, seated himself in a carriage drawn by four white horses, and drove to his bride's house. No one recognized him. The father took him for a distinguished general, and led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. He was forced to place himself between the two eldest, who helped him to wine, gave him the best pieces of meat, and thought that in all the world they had never seen a handsomer man. The bride, however, sat opposite to him in her black dress, and never raised her eyes, nor spoke a word.",
"When at length he asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to wife, the two eldest jumped up, ran into their bedrooms to put on splendid dresses, for each of them fancied she was the chosen one.",
"The stranger, as soon as he was alone with his bride, brought out his half of the ring, and threw it in a glass of wine which he handed across the table to her. She took the wine, but when she had drunk it, and found the half ring lying at the bottom, her heart began to beat. She got the other half, which she wore on a ribbon round her neck, joined them, and saw that the two pieces fitted exactly together. Then said he, \"I am your betrothed bridegroom, whom you saw as Bearskin, but through God's grace I have again received my human form, and have once more become clean.\" He went up to her, embraced her, and gave her a kiss.",
"In the meantime the two sisters came back in full dress, and when they saw that the handsome man had fallen to the share of the youngest, and heard that he was Bearskin, they ran out full of anger and rage. One of them drowned herself in the well, the other hanged herself on a tree. In the evening, some one knocked at the door, and when the bridegroom opened it, it was the devil in his green coat, who said, \"You see, I have now got two souls in the place of your one.\""
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"Once there was a brave young soldier who fought very hard in the war. He was always the first to jump in front of danger. But when the fighting stopped and peace came, he had to leave. The captain told him he could go wherever he wanted. Sadly, his parents had passed away, and he had no home to go back to. He went to his brothers and asked if he could stay with them until the next war began. But his brothers were very unkind. They said, \"You are no help to us. You must go out and make your own living.\" The soldier had nothing left but his old gun, so he put it on his shoulder and walked out into the wide world.",
"He walked to a wide, open field. There were only trees in a circle. He sat down sadly and thought about his life. \"I have no money,\" he thought. \"I only know how to fight. But now there is peace, so they do not need me. I will have to go hungry.\" Suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked around. A strange man stood there. The man wore a green coat and looked very proud, but he had a big, scary foot. \"I know what you need,\" the man said. \"You will have gold and nice things. You can have as much as you want. But first, I must know if you are brave. I do not want to give my gifts to someone who is scared.\" \"I am a soldier,\" he said. \"How can a soldier be afraid?",
"You can put me to the test,\" the soldier said. \"Very well,\" the man replied. \"Look behind you.\" The soldier turned around and saw a big bear coming closer. \"Oh no!\" cried the soldier. \"I will tickle your nose so you stop growling.\" He aimed his gun and shot the bear right in its nose. The bear fell down and went to sleep. \"I see you are brave,\" said the stranger. \"But there is one more thing you must do.\" \"If it is safe,\" the soldier answered, \"I will do it.",
"You will have to do this yourself,\" said the kind man. \"For the next seven years, you must not wash, comb your hair, or cut your nails. You must not say your prayers. I will give you a coat and a cloak to wear. If you stay alive, you will be free and rich forever. If you die, I will take you.\" The soldier felt very brave. He knew he could be brave. He agreed to the deal. The man took off his green coat and gave it to the soldier. He said, \"If you wear this coat and put your hand in the pocket, you will always find money inside.",
"Then he took the soft bear skin off and said, \"This will be your warm coat, and your bed too. You will sleep in it, and you will never sleep in any other bed. Because of this coat, everyone will call you Bearskin.\" Just like that, the devil disappeared.",
"The soldier put on the coat. He felt inside the pocket and knew the magic was real. Then he put on the big bearskin and walked out into the world. He had so much fun. He did everything that made him happy and did not spend his money on bad things.",
"For the first year, he looked just fine. But in the second year, he started to look like a scary monster. His hair covered his whole face, and his beard was rough and thick. His fingers looked like sharp claws, and his face was so dirty that if someone had planted grass there, it would have grown right away. Everyone who saw him ran away in fear. But he was kind. He gave money to the poor people so they would pray for him. He paid well for food and a place to sleep, so he was always safe.",
"In the fourth year, he went to an inn. The landlord did not want him there. He would not let him stay in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would get scared. But Bearskin reached into his pocket. He pulled out a handful of shiny coins. The host saw the money and let him stay in a small room outside. Bearskin promised to stay hidden. He did not want the inn to get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin sat alone in the evening, he really wished the seven years were over. Suddenly, he heard a sad sound coming from the next room. He had a kind heart, so he opened the door. There was an old man crying and holding his hands. Bearskin walked closer, but the man tried to run away. When the man heard Bearskin’s voice, he stopped. Bearskin spoke gently, and the old man told him why he was sad. His money had run out, and he and his daughters would have no food. He was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper and would go to prison. \"If that is your only problem,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.",
"He asked the innkeeper to come over. He paid the man for his help. Then, he put a big bag of gold into the poor old man’s pocket.",
"When the old man saw that he was free from all his trouble, he did not know how to say thank you. \"Come with me,\" he said to Bearskin. \"My daughters are very beautiful. You can choose one of them to be your wife. When she hears what you did for me, she will be happy to say yes. You look a little different, but she will help you feel like yourself again.\" This made Bearskin very happy, so he went with the old man. When the oldest daughter saw him, she was so scared by his face that she screamed and ran away. The second daughter stood still and looked at him from head to foot. Then she said, \"How can I marry a man who does not look like a human? The shaggy bear who was here before looked much nicer to me. At least he wore a nice coat and white gloves.",
"If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest sister spoke up. \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you. So if you promised him a bride, we must keep our promise.\"\n\nIt was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered in dirt and hair. If they could see, they would know how happy he was to hear these kind words. He took a ring from his finger and broke it in two. He gave her one half and kept the other for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half and hers on his. He asked her to keep her piece safe.\n\nHe took his leave and said, \"I must still wander for three years. If I do not return by then, you are free. I will be gone. But please pray to God to keep me safe.",
"The poor bride put on her black dress. When she thought about her new husband, she felt very sad. Tears came to her eyes. Her sisters were not kind to her. They only laughed at her. \"Be careful,\" said the oldest sister. \"If you marry him, he might hurt you.\" \"Yes,\" said the second sister. \"Bears like sweet things. If he likes you, he might eat you up!\" \"You must do what he wants,\" said the first one, \"or he will get angry.\" \"But the wedding will be fun,\" said the second. \"Bears know how to dance.\" The bride stayed quiet. She did not let them make her feel bad. Bearskin, however, traveled far and wide. He helped people everywhere he went. He gave food to the poor so they would pray for him.",
"At last, the seven days were over. Bearskin went out to the heath and sat down under the trees. Soon, the wind blew hard. The devil appeared and looked at him with a mean face. He threw the old bearskin coat to Bearskin and asked for his green coat back. \"Not yet,\" said Bearskin. \"You must make me clean first.\" The devil had to do it. He fetched water, washed Bearskin, combed his hair, and cut his nails. Now, Bearskin looked like a strong, handsome soldier, much better than he ever had before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin felt very happy and light. He went into the town and put on a beautiful velvet coat. He sat in a carriage pulled by four white horses and drove to his bride's house. No one knew who he was. The father thought he was a very important general. He led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. Bearskin had to sit between the two older sisters. They gave him good wine and the best pieces of meat. They thought he was the most handsome man they had ever seen. But the bride sat across from him in her black dress. She never looked up at him and did not say a word.",
"When he finally asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to marry, the two older sisters jumped up. They ran quickly into their bedrooms to put on their very best dresses. Each of them felt sure that she was the one he wanted.",
"The stranger was finally alone with his new wife. He took the half ring and dropped it into a glass of wine. He handed the glass to her. She drank the wine and looked down. There was the half ring at the bottom of the glass. Her heart beat fast with happiness. She took the other half, which she wore on a ribbon around her neck. She put them together, and they fit perfectly. Then he said, \"I am your true love. You saw me as the Bear, but with God's help, I am human again. I am clean and good.\" He walked over to her, gave her a warm hug, and kissed her gently.",
"The two sisters came back looking very nice. But when they saw that the handsome man was going to marry the youngest, they were very angry. One sister jumped into the well, and the other hung herself on a tree. Later that evening, someone knocked on the door. The bridegroom opened it, and there stood the devil in his green coat. He smiled and said, \"You see, I have two souls now, just like you wanted."
],
"child_friendly_text": "Once there was a brave young soldier who fought very hard in the war. He was always the first to jump in front of danger. But when the fighting stopped and peace came, he had to leave. The captain told him he could go wherever he wanted. Sadly, his parents had passed away, and he had no home to go back to. He went to his brothers and asked if he could stay with them until the next war began. But his brothers were very unkind. They said, \"You are no help to us. You must go out and make your own living.\" The soldier had nothing left but his old gun, so he put it on his shoulder and walked out into the wide world.\n\nHe walked to a wide, open field. There were only trees in a circle. He sat down sadly and thought about his life. \"I have no money,\" he thought. \"I only know how to fight. But now there is peace, so they do not need me. I will have to go hungry.\" Suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked around. A strange man stood there. The man wore a green coat and looked very proud, but he had a big, scary foot. \"I know what you need,\" the man said. \"You will have gold and nice things. You can have as much as you want. But first, I must know if you are brave. I do not want to give my gifts to someone who is scared.\" \"I am a soldier,\" he said. \"How can a soldier be afraid?\n\nYou can put me to the test,\" the soldier said. \"Very well,\" the man replied. \"Look behind you.\" The soldier turned around and saw a big bear coming closer. \"Oh no!\" cried the soldier. \"I will tickle your nose so you stop growling.\" He aimed his gun and shot the bear right in its nose. The bear fell down and went to sleep. \"I see you are brave,\" said the stranger. \"But there is one more thing you must do.\" \"If it is safe,\" the soldier answered, \"I will do it.\n\nYou will have to do this yourself,\" said the kind man. \"For the next seven years, you must not wash, comb your hair, or cut your nails. You must not say your prayers. I will give you a coat and a cloak to wear. If you stay alive, you will be free and rich forever. If you die, I will take you.\" The soldier felt very brave. He knew he could be brave. He agreed to the deal. The man took off his green coat and gave it to the soldier. He said, \"If you wear this coat and put your hand in the pocket, you will always find money inside.\n\nThen he took the soft bear skin off and said, \"This will be your warm coat, and your bed too. You will sleep in it, and you will never sleep in any other bed. Because of this coat, everyone will call you Bearskin.\" Just like that, the devil disappeared.\n\nThe soldier put on the coat. He felt inside the pocket and knew the magic was real. Then he put on the big bearskin and walked out into the world. He had so much fun. He did everything that made him happy and did not spend his money on bad things.\n\nFor the first year, he looked just fine. But in the second year, he started to look like a scary monster. His hair covered his whole face, and his beard was rough and thick. His fingers looked like sharp claws, and his face was so dirty that if someone had planted grass there, it would have grown right away. Everyone who saw him ran away in fear. But he was kind. He gave money to the poor people so they would pray for him. He paid well for food and a place to sleep, so he was always safe.\n\nIn the fourth year, he went to an inn. The landlord did not want him there. He would not let him stay in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would get scared. But Bearskin reached into his pocket. He pulled out a handful of shiny coins. The host saw the money and let him stay in a small room outside. Bearskin promised to stay hidden. He did not want the inn to get a bad name.\n\nAs Bearskin sat alone in the evening, he really wished the seven years were over. Suddenly, he heard a sad sound coming from the next room. He had a kind heart, so he opened the door. There was an old man crying and holding his hands. Bearskin walked closer, but the man tried to run away. When the man heard Bearskin’s voice, he stopped. Bearskin spoke gently, and the old man told him why he was sad. His money had run out, and he and his daughters would have no food. He was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper and would go to prison. \"If that is your only problem,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.\n\nHe asked the innkeeper to come over. He paid the man for his help. Then, he put a big bag of gold into the poor old man’s pocket.\n\nWhen the old man saw that he was free from all his trouble, he did not know how to say thank you. \"Come with me,\" he said to Bearskin. \"My daughters are very beautiful. You can choose one of them to be your wife. When she hears what you did for me, she will be happy to say yes. You look a little different, but she will help you feel like yourself again.\" This made Bearskin very happy, so he went with the old man. When the oldest daughter saw him, she was so scared by his face that she screamed and ran away. The second daughter stood still and looked at him from head to foot. Then she said, \"How can I marry a man who does not look like a human? The shaggy bear who was here before looked much nicer to me. At least he wore a nice coat and white gloves.\n\nIf he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest sister spoke up. \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you. So if you promised him a bride, we must keep our promise.\"\n\nIt was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered in dirt and hair. If they could see, they would know how happy he was to hear these kind words. He took a ring from his finger and broke it in two. He gave her one half and kept the other for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half and hers on his. He asked her to keep her piece safe.\n\nHe took his leave and said, \"I must still wander for three years. If I do not return by then, you are free. I will be gone. But please pray to God to keep me safe.\n\nThe poor bride put on her black dress. When she thought about her new husband, she felt very sad. Tears came to her eyes. Her sisters were not kind to her. They only laughed at her. \"Be careful,\" said the oldest sister. \"If you marry him, he might hurt you.\" \"Yes,\" said the second sister. \"Bears like sweet things. If he likes you, he might eat you up!\" \"You must do what he wants,\" said the first one, \"or he will get angry.\" \"But the wedding will be fun,\" said the second. \"Bears know how to dance.\" The bride stayed quiet. She did not let them make her feel bad. Bearskin, however, traveled far and wide. He helped people everywhere he went. He gave food to the poor so they would pray for him.\n\nAt last, the seven days were over. Bearskin went out to the heath and sat down under the trees. Soon, the wind blew hard. The devil appeared and looked at him with a mean face. He threw the old bearskin coat to Bearskin and asked for his green coat back. \"Not yet,\" said Bearskin. \"You must make me clean first.\" The devil had to do it. He fetched water, washed Bearskin, combed his hair, and cut his nails. Now, Bearskin looked like a strong, handsome soldier, much better than he ever had before.\n\nWhen the devil had gone away, Bearskin felt very happy and light. He went into the town and put on a beautiful velvet coat. He sat in a carriage pulled by four white horses and drove to his bride's house. No one knew who he was. The father thought he was a very important general. He led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. Bearskin had to sit between the two older sisters. They gave him good wine and the best pieces of meat. They thought he was the most handsome man they had ever seen. But the bride sat across from him in her black dress. She never looked up at him and did not say a word.\n\nWhen he finally asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to marry, the two older sisters jumped up. They ran quickly into their bedrooms to put on their very best dresses. Each of them felt sure that she was the one he wanted.\n\nThe stranger was finally alone with his new wife. He took the half ring and dropped it into a glass of wine. He handed the glass to her. She drank the wine and looked down. There was the half ring at the bottom of the glass. Her heart beat fast with happiness. She took the other half, which she wore on a ribbon around her neck. She put them together, and they fit perfectly. Then he said, \"I am your true love. You saw me as the Bear, but with God's help, I am human again. I am clean and good.\" He walked over to her, gave her a warm hug, and kissed her gently.\n\nThe two sisters came back looking very nice. But when they saw that the handsome man was going to marry the youngest, they were very angry. One sister jumped into the well, and the other hung herself on a tree. Later that evening, someone knocked on the door. The bridegroom opened it, and there stood the devil in his green coat. He smiled and said, \"You see, I have two souls now, just like you wanted.",
"child_friendly_chunks": [
"Once there was a brave young soldier who fought very hard in the war. He was always the first to jump in front of danger. But when the fighting stopped and peace came, he had to leave. The captain told him he could go wherever he wanted. Sadly, his parents had passed away, and he had no home to go back to. He went to his brothers and asked if he could stay with them until the next war began. But his brothers were very unkind. They said, \"You are no help to us. You must go out and make your own living.\" The soldier had nothing left but his old gun, so he put it on his shoulder and walked out into the wide world.",
"He walked to a wide, open field. There were only trees in a circle. He sat down sadly and thought about his life. \"I have no money,\" he thought. \"I only know how to fight. But now there is peace, so they do not need me. I will have to go hungry.\" Suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked around. A strange man stood there. The man wore a green coat and looked very proud, but he had a big, scary foot. \"I know what you need,\" the man said. \"You will have gold and nice things. You can have as much as you want. But first, I must know if you are brave. I do not want to give my gifts to someone who is scared.\" \"I am a soldier,\" he said. \"How can a soldier be afraid?",
"You can put me to the test,\" the soldier said. \"Very well,\" the man replied. \"Look behind you.\" The soldier turned around and saw a big bear coming closer. \"Oh no!\" cried the soldier. \"I will tickle your nose so you stop growling.\" He aimed his gun and shot the bear right in its nose. The bear fell down and went to sleep. \"I see you are brave,\" said the stranger. \"But there is one more thing you must do.\" \"If it is safe,\" the soldier answered, \"I will do it.",
"You will have to do this yourself,\" said the kind man. \"For the next seven years, you must not wash, comb your hair, or cut your nails. You must not say your prayers. I will give you a coat and a cloak to wear. If you stay alive, you will be free and rich forever. If you die, I will take you.\" The soldier felt very brave. He knew he could be brave. He agreed to the deal. The man took off his green coat and gave it to the soldier. He said, \"If you wear this coat and put your hand in the pocket, you will always find money inside.",
"Then he took the soft bear skin off and said, \"This will be your warm coat, and your bed too. You will sleep in it, and you will never sleep in any other bed. Because of this coat, everyone will call you Bearskin.\" Just like that, the devil disappeared.",
"The soldier put on the coat. He felt inside the pocket and knew the magic was real. Then he put on the big bearskin and walked out into the world. He had so much fun. He did everything that made him happy and did not spend his money on bad things.",
"For the first year, he looked just fine. But in the second year, he started to look like a scary monster. His hair covered his whole face, and his beard was rough and thick. His fingers looked like sharp claws, and his face was so dirty that if someone had planted grass there, it would have grown right away. Everyone who saw him ran away in fear. But he was kind. He gave money to the poor people so they would pray for him. He paid well for food and a place to sleep, so he was always safe.",
"In the fourth year, he went to an inn. The landlord did not want him there. He would not let him stay in the stable, because he was afraid the horses would get scared. But Bearskin reached into his pocket. He pulled out a handful of shiny coins. The host saw the money and let him stay in a small room outside. Bearskin promised to stay hidden. He did not want the inn to get a bad name.",
"As Bearskin sat alone in the evening, he really wished the seven years were over. Suddenly, he heard a sad sound coming from the next room. He had a kind heart, so he opened the door. There was an old man crying and holding his hands. Bearskin walked closer, but the man tried to run away. When the man heard Bearskin’s voice, he stopped. Bearskin spoke gently, and the old man told him why he was sad. His money had run out, and he and his daughters would have no food. He was so poor that he could not pay the innkeeper and would go to prison. \"If that is your only problem,\" said Bearskin, \"I have plenty of money.",
"He asked the innkeeper to come over. He paid the man for his help. Then, he put a big bag of gold into the poor old man’s pocket.",
"When the old man saw that he was free from all his trouble, he did not know how to say thank you. \"Come with me,\" he said to Bearskin. \"My daughters are very beautiful. You can choose one of them to be your wife. When she hears what you did for me, she will be happy to say yes. You look a little different, but she will help you feel like yourself again.\" This made Bearskin very happy, so he went with the old man. When the oldest daughter saw him, she was so scared by his face that she screamed and ran away. The second daughter stood still and looked at him from head to foot. Then she said, \"How can I marry a man who does not look like a human? The shaggy bear who was here before looked much nicer to me. At least he wore a nice coat and white gloves.",
"If he were only ugly, I might get used to that.\" The youngest sister spoke up. \"Dear father, that must be a good man to have helped you. So if you promised him a bride, we must keep our promise.\"\n\nIt was a pity that Bearskin's face was covered in dirt and hair. If they could see, they would know how happy he was to hear these kind words. He took a ring from his finger and broke it in two. He gave her one half and kept the other for himself. Then he wrote his name on her half and hers on his. He asked her to keep her piece safe.\n\nHe took his leave and said, \"I must still wander for three years. If I do not return by then, you are free. I will be gone. But please pray to God to keep me safe.",
"The poor bride put on her black dress. When she thought about her new husband, she felt very sad. Tears came to her eyes. Her sisters were not kind to her. They only laughed at her. \"Be careful,\" said the oldest sister. \"If you marry him, he might hurt you.\" \"Yes,\" said the second sister. \"Bears like sweet things. If he likes you, he might eat you up!\" \"You must do what he wants,\" said the first one, \"or he will get angry.\" \"But the wedding will be fun,\" said the second. \"Bears know how to dance.\" The bride stayed quiet. She did not let them make her feel bad. Bearskin, however, traveled far and wide. He helped people everywhere he went. He gave food to the poor so they would pray for him.",
"At last, the seven days were over. Bearskin went out to the heath and sat down under the trees. Soon, the wind blew hard. The devil appeared and looked at him with a mean face. He threw the old bearskin coat to Bearskin and asked for his green coat back. \"Not yet,\" said Bearskin. \"You must make me clean first.\" The devil had to do it. He fetched water, washed Bearskin, combed his hair, and cut his nails. Now, Bearskin looked like a strong, handsome soldier, much better than he ever had before.",
"When the devil had gone away, Bearskin felt very happy and light. He went into the town and put on a beautiful velvet coat. He sat in a carriage pulled by four white horses and drove to his bride's house. No one knew who he was. The father thought he was a very important general. He led him into the room where his daughters were sitting. Bearskin had to sit between the two older sisters. They gave him good wine and the best pieces of meat. They thought he was the most handsome man they had ever seen. But the bride sat across from him in her black dress. She never looked up at him and did not say a word.",
"When he finally asked the father if he would give him one of his daughters to marry, the two older sisters jumped up. They ran quickly into their bedrooms to put on their very best dresses. Each of them felt sure that she was the one he wanted.",
"The stranger was finally alone with his new wife. He took the half ring and dropped it into a glass of wine. He handed the glass to her. She drank the wine and looked down. There was the half ring at the bottom of the glass. Her heart beat fast with happiness. She took the other half, which she wore on a ribbon around her neck. She put them together, and they fit perfectly. Then he said, \"I am your true love. You saw me as the Bear, but with God's help, I am human again. I am clean and good.\" He walked over to her, gave her a warm hug, and kissed her gently.",
"The two sisters came back looking very nice. But when they saw that the handsome man was going to marry the youngest, they were very angry. One sister jumped into the well, and the other hung herself on a tree. Later that evening, someone knocked on the door. The bridegroom opened it, and there stood the devil in his green coat. He smiled and said, \"You see, I have two souls now, just like you wanted."
],
"v3_model": "glm-4.7-flash:q4_K_M",
"v3_flags": []
}