the seven crows

Tale by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Ruth Salles and Renate Kaufmann.

Once upon a time there was a man who had seven children, but as much as he wanted, not a single daughter.

At last, again his wife informed him of the forthcoming arrival of a child; and when she came into the world she was really a girl. There was great joy, but the child was small and frail, and because of his weakness, he had to be baptized in a hurry. The father urgently sent one of the boys to the spring to fetch water for baptism, and the other six went along.

As each one wanted to be the first to draw water, the pitcher fell into the well, and there they remained without knowing what to do, and none of them dared to go home.

As they never returned, the father became impatient and said:

- Surely, because of some joke, these soulless boys forgot the task.

And, fearful that the girl would die without being baptized, he exclaimed, very angry: - I wish they all turned into crows.

No sooner had he uttered these words than he heard a flutter of wings overhead, he looked up and saw seven coal-black crows that took flight and departed.

The parents could not lift the curse, but, although they were saddened by the loss of their seven children, they found some comfort in their dear little daughter, who soon gained strength and, day by day, became more beautiful. She never knew for a long time that she had siblings, as her parents were careful not to talk to her about it; until one day, by chance, he heard some people say that she was a very beautiful girl, but practically the culprit for the misfortune of her seven brothers. She then, dismayed, went to ask her father and mother if she had any siblings and what had become of them. The parents could not keep the secret any longer, but they told her that it had been a decree from heaven, and her birth only the innocent reason.

But the girl every day felt scruples about having been the cause of her brothers' misfortune and felt that she had to save them. And there was no rest, until one day he secretly left and went out into the world to find them, wherever they were, and set them free.

He took nothing with him, except a little ring from his parents as a souvenir, a loaf of bread to satisfy his hunger, a pitcher of water to quench his thirst, and a stool to rest on.

And he walked, away, away, to the end of the world. He got to where the sun was, but it was too hot, scary, and eating little children. So he ran away hurriedly and ran to the moon, but it was too cold and too horrible and bad. Noticing the child said:

“I smell, I smell human flesh.

The girl left quickly and reached the stars, who were good and kind to her. Each one is sitting in her little chair; and the morning star, giving a little chicken bone, said:

– Without this little bone you will not be able to unlock the door of the glass mountain, where your brothers are.

The girl took the little bone, wrapped it tightly in a handkerchief, and set off again, walking for a long time, until she reached the mountain of glass. The gate was locked, and she wanted to take the little bone out of the handkerchief, but when she opened it it was empty: she had missed the gift of the kind stars.

What to do now? I wanted to save the brothers and I didn't have the key to open the glass mountain. The good little sister took a knife, cut off her little finger, inserted it into the lock, and happily the gate opened. As soon as she entered, a little dwarf came to her and said:

– What are you looking for, my daughter?

“I'm looking for my brothers, the seven crows,” she replied.

Said the dwarf:

“The raven lords aren't at home, but if you want to wait for them to come back, then go inside.

Then the little dwarf brought the seven crows' meal in seven little plates and in seven little cups, and from each little plate the little sister ate a little, and from each little cup she drank a little sip; but in the last little cup he dropped the ring he had brought with him.

Suddenly, she heard the flutter of wings and the cawing in the air. The little dwarf then said:

“Here come the crow lords.

They arrived, wanted to eat and drink and looked for their little plates and cups. And then one after another asked:

– Who ate from my plate? Who drank from my cup? It was the mouth of a human.

And when the seventh reached the bottom of the glass, the little ring rolled to meet him. He then saw it, recognized it as his father's and mother's ring, and said:

– God willing our little sister to be here, because then we will be saved. When the girl, who was lurking behind the door, heard this wish, she stepped forward, and all the crows regained their human form.

And they embraced and kissed one another, and went home happy.