Grimm Brothers
|
Germany

Hans in Luck

Hans trades his gold for various animals and items, ending up with nothing, but feels lucky to be free.
Contentment
Choice
Consequences
Hans in Luck
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Hans. He had worked hard for seven years for his master and decided it was time to go home. "Master," he said, "I have finished my work here. Can you pay me my wages? I want to go back to my mother."

His master, pleased with Hans' good work, replied, "You have been a good worker, Hans. You deserve a great reward." He gave Hans a big lump of gold.

Hans wrapped the gold in a cloth, put it over his shoulder, and started his journey home. As he walked, he saw a rider on a fine horse and thought, "Riding looks so easy and comfortable. No tripping over rocks, no tired feet!"

The rider heard Hans and stopped. "Why don't you ride instead of walking?" he asked.

Hans sighed, "I would love to, but I have this heavy gold to carry. It's valuable, but it's making my journey very hard."

"Why not trade?" the rider offered. "I'll take your gold, and you can have my horse."

Hans was happy and agreed right away. He gave his gold for the horse but soon found riding harder than he thought. Before long, the horse threw him off into a ditch. Luckily, a farmer passing by caught the horse and came to Hans.

Hans, feeling sore, said, "I've had enough of riding. Walking with a cow sounds better; at least it's safer, and you get milk, butter, and cheese."

The farmer saw a chance and offered his cow in exchange for the horse. Hans happily accepted, thinking of all the dairy products he would enjoy.

With the cow, Hans continued home. At an inn, he ate all his bread and drank a glass of beer. Refreshed but now without money, he kept walking. Soon, he was very thirsty under the hot sun.

Hans tried to milk his cow, but she was dry. Frustrated, he got kicked by the cow. Just then, a butcher came by with a young pig in a cart.

The butcher gave Hans a drink and suggested trading the cow for the pig, saying the cow was old and better for plowing. Hans agreed, happy for easier care and the thought of tasty pork.

As Hans walked with his new pig, he met a boy with a goose. They talked, and Hans bragged about his trades. The boy warned Hans that the pig might be stolen and advised him to trade it for the goose to avoid trouble. Hans, worried, quickly agreed.

Now with a goose, Hans felt lucky, thinking of all the delicious meals and a comfy pillow he could make from its feathers. His last trade happened when he met a knife-grinder who convinced him that grinding knives would make him rich. Eager for wealth, Hans traded his goose for a grindstone.

But carrying the heavy stone soon tired him out. Exhausted and hungry, Hans stopped by a stream to rest and drink. By accident, he knocked the grindstone into the water. Relieved of his burden, Hans thanked his lucky stars. Feeling lighter than ever, he continued home, sure he was the luckiest man alive to be free from his heavy load.

Reaching home, Hans was just happy to be back. He learned that sometimes the best riches are those that don't weigh you down.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Hans. He had worked hard for seven years for his master and decided it was time to go home. "Master," he said, "I have finished my work here. Can you pay me my wages? I want to go back to my mother."

His master, pleased with Hans' good work, replied, "You have been a good worker, Hans. You deserve a great reward." He gave Hans a big lump of gold.

Hans wrapped the gold in a cloth, put it over his shoulder, and started his journey home. As he walked, he saw a rider on a fine horse and thought, "Riding looks so easy and comfortable. No tripping over rocks, no tired feet!"

The rider heard Hans and stopped. "Why don't you ride instead of walking?" he asked.

Hans sighed, "I would love to, but I have this heavy gold to carry. It's valuable, but it's making my journey very hard."

"Why not trade?" the rider offered. "I'll take your gold, and you can have my horse."

Hans was happy and agreed right away. He gave his gold for the horse but soon found riding harder than he thought. Before long, the horse threw him off into a ditch. Luckily, a farmer passing by caught the horse and came to Hans.

Hans, feeling sore, said, "I've had enough of riding. Walking with a cow sounds better; at least it's safer, and you get milk, butter, and cheese."

The farmer saw a chance and offered his cow in exchange for the horse. Hans happily accepted, thinking of all the dairy products he would enjoy.

With the cow, Hans continued home. At an inn, he ate all his bread and drank a glass of beer. Refreshed but now without money, he kept walking. Soon, he was very thirsty under the hot sun.

Hans tried to milk his cow, but she was dry. Frustrated, he got kicked by the cow. Just then, a butcher came by with a young pig in a cart.

The butcher gave Hans a drink and suggested trading the cow for the pig, saying the cow was old and better for plowing. Hans agreed, happy for easier care and the thought of tasty pork.

As Hans walked with his new pig, he met a boy with a goose. They talked, and Hans bragged about his trades. The boy warned Hans that the pig might be stolen and advised him to trade it for the goose to avoid trouble. Hans, worried, quickly agreed.

Now with a goose, Hans felt lucky, thinking of all the delicious meals and a comfy pillow he could make from its feathers. His last trade happened when he met a knife-grinder who convinced him that grinding knives would make him rich. Eager for wealth, Hans traded his goose for a grindstone.

But carrying the heavy stone soon tired him out. Exhausted and hungry, Hans stopped by a stream to rest and drink. By accident, he knocked the grindstone into the water. Relieved of his burden, Hans thanked his lucky stars. Feeling lighter than ever, he continued home, sure he was the luckiest man alive to be free from his heavy load.

Reaching home, Hans was just happy to be back. He learned that sometimes the best riches are those that don't weigh you down.

There is a young man. His name is Hans. Hans works for a master. He has worked for seven years. He wants to go home to his mother.

Hans says, "Master, I want to go home. Can you pay me?"

The master likes Hans. He says, "Hans, you are a good worker. Here is a big piece of gold for you."

Hans is happy. He takes the gold. He walks home. On the way, he sees a man on a horse.

Hans thinks, "Riding a horse looks easy. I want to ride."

The man on the horse says, "Why don't you ride?"

Hans says, "I have this heavy gold. It is hard to walk with it."

The man says, "Let's swap. You give me the gold, and I give you the horse."

Hans is happy. He takes the horse. But the horse is hard to ride. Hans falls off the horse.

A farmer sees Hans. The farmer has a cow. Hans says, "I do not like riding. I want to walk with a cow. The cow gives milk."

The farmer says, "Let's swap. You give me the horse, and I give you the cow."

Hans is happy. He takes the cow. He walks and gets very thirsty. He tries to get milk from the cow, but the cow has no milk. The cow kicks him.

A butcher comes with a pig. The butcher says, "Swap the cow for my pig."

Hans is happy. He takes the pig. He walks and meets a boy with a goose. The boy says, "Your pig might be stolen. Swap it for my goose."

Hans is worried. He swaps the pig for the goose. He is happy. He thinks about goose meals and a pillow from feathers.

Hans meets a man with a big grindstone. The man says, "Swap the goose for my grindstone. You can make money with it."

Hans is happy. He takes the grindstone. It is heavy. He stops by a river to rest. He drops the grindstone into the water. Now he has no gold, no horse, no cow, no pig, no goose, and no grindstone.

Hans is free. He is happy. He goes home to his mother. He feels lucky. He learns that the best things do not weigh you down.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Hans. He had worked hard for seven years for his master and decided it was time to go home. "Master," he said, "I have finished my work here. Can you pay me my wages? I want to go back to my mother."

His master, pleased with Hans' good work, replied, "You have been a good worker, Hans. You deserve a great reward." He gave Hans a big lump of gold.

Hans wrapped the gold in a cloth, put it over his shoulder, and started his journey home. As he walked, he saw a rider on a fine horse and thought, "Riding looks so easy and comfortable. No tripping over rocks, no tired feet!"

The rider heard Hans and stopped. "Why don't you ride instead of walking?" he asked.

Hans sighed, "I would love to, but I have this heavy gold to carry. It's valuable, but it's making my journey very hard."

"Why not trade?" the rider offered. "I'll take your gold, and you can have my horse."

Hans was happy and agreed right away. He gave his gold for the horse but soon found riding harder than he thought. Before long, the horse threw him off into a ditch. Luckily, a farmer passing by caught the horse and came to Hans.

Hans, feeling sore, said, "I've had enough of riding. Walking with a cow sounds better; at least it's safer, and you get milk, butter, and cheese."

The farmer saw a chance and offered his cow in exchange for the horse. Hans happily accepted, thinking of all the dairy products he would enjoy.

With the cow, Hans continued home. At an inn, he ate all his bread and drank a glass of beer. Refreshed but now without money, he kept walking. Soon, he was very thirsty under the hot sun.

Hans tried to milk his cow, but she was dry. Frustrated, he got kicked by the cow. Just then, a butcher came by with a young pig in a cart.

The butcher gave Hans a drink and suggested trading the cow for the pig, saying the cow was old and better for plowing. Hans agreed, happy for easier care and the thought of tasty pork.

As Hans walked with his new pig, he met a boy with a goose. They talked, and Hans bragged about his trades. The boy warned Hans that the pig might be stolen and advised him to trade it for the goose to avoid trouble. Hans, worried, quickly agreed.

Now with a goose, Hans felt lucky, thinking of all the delicious meals and a comfy pillow he could make from its feathers. His last trade happened when he met a knife-grinder who convinced him that grinding knives would make him rich. Eager for wealth, Hans traded his goose for a grindstone.

But carrying the heavy stone soon tired him out. Exhausted and hungry, Hans stopped by a stream to rest and drink. By accident, he knocked the grindstone into the water. Relieved of his burden, Hans thanked his lucky stars. Feeling lighter than ever, he continued home, sure he was the luckiest man alive to be free from his heavy load.

Reaching home, Hans was just happy to be back. He learned that sometimes the best riches are those that don't weigh you down.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Hans. He had worked hard for seven years for his master and decided it was time to go home. "Master," he said, "I've been here so long, even the spiders have started calling me 'Roommate Hans.' Can I have my wages? I need to go back to my mother before she forgets what I look like."

His master, pleased with Hans' good work, replied, "You've been a great worker, Hans. You deserve a fantastic reward." He handed Hans a big lump of gold.

Hans wrapped the gold in his cloth, threw it over his shoulder, and started his journey home. As he walked, he saw a rider on a fine horse and thought, "Wow, riding looks so easy! No tripping over rocks, no tired feet, and best of all, no gold lump giving me a shoulder workout!"

The rider heard Hans and stopped. "Why don't you ride instead of walking?" he asked, clearly having eavesdropped on Hans' inner monologue.

Hans sighed, "I would love to, but I have this heavy gold to carry. It’s valuable, but it’s making my journey feel like I'm dragging a hippo."

"Why not trade?" the rider offered. "I’ll take your gold, and you can have my horse."

Hans' eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "Deal!" he shouted, handing over the gold faster than you could say, "Giddy up!"

But soon, Hans found riding harder than he thought. The horse, apparently a rodeo champion in disguise, threw him off into a ditch. Luckily, a farmer passing by caught the horse and came to Hans.

Hans, now dirtier and sorer than a mud-wrestling pig, said, "I've had enough of riding. Walking with a cow sounds better; at least it’s safer, and you get milk, butter, and cheese. Plus, cows don’t have an eject button."

The farmer saw a chance and offered his cow in exchange for the horse. Hans happily accepted, thinking of all the dairy products he’d enjoy and a safer, slower travel experience.

With the cow, Hans continued home. At an inn, he ate all his bread and drank a glass of lemonade. Refreshed but now without money, he kept walking. Soon, he was very thirsty under the hot sun.

Hans tried to milk his cow, but she was dry. Frustrated, he got kicked by the cow. Just then, a butcher came by with a young pig in a cart.

The butcher gave Hans a drink and suggested trading the cow for the pig, saying the cow was old and better for plowing. Hans agreed, happy for easier care and the thought of tasty pork. "Pork! Bacon! Sausages! Oh my!" Hans dreamed aloud.

As Hans walked with his new pig, he met a boy with a goose. They chatted, and Hans bragged about his trades. The boy warned Hans that the pig might be stolen and advised him to trade it for the goose to avoid trouble. Hans, worried, quickly agreed.

Now with a goose, Hans felt lucky, thinking of all the delicious meals and a comfy pillow he could make from its feathers. His last trade happened when he met a knife-grinder who convinced him that grinding knives would make him rich. "Rich?" Hans echoed, eyes widening. "I could buy my own bakery! Or at least a lifetime supply of donuts."

Eager for wealth, Hans traded his goose for a grindstone. But carrying the heavy stone soon tired him out. Exhausted and hungry, Hans stopped by a stream to rest and drink. By accident, he knocked the grindstone into the water. Relieved of his burden, Hans thanked his lucky stars. "Phew! At least I won’t have to lug that around anymore. Good riddance, grindstone!"

Feeling lighter than ever, Hans continued home, sure he was the luckiest man alive to be free from his heavy load.

Reaching home, Hans was just happy to be back. He learned that sometimes the best riches are those that don’t weigh you down. "Or throw you into a ditch," he added with a grin.

And so, Hans lived happily, enjoying the lightness of being free from gold lumps, rodeo horses, and grindstones. And maybe, just maybe, he learned to appreciate the simple joys of life – like not getting kicked by cows.

Once there was a boy named Hans,
Who worked so hard with his own hands.
For seven years, he gave his best,
Then said, "It’s time for me to rest."

His master smiled and said, "Well done!"
And handed Hans a lump of gold, a ton.
Hans wrapped it up, with joy to spare,
And started home with happy care.

Along the way, a rider came,
On a horse so swift, without a name.
Hans said, "Your ride looks smooth and neat,
Better than walking on these tired feet."

"Why not trade?" the rider said,
"I'll take your gold, you'll ride instead."
Hans agreed and took the steed,
But riding was tough, not easy indeed.

The horse threw Hans into a ditch,
A farmer helped him, without a hitch.
Hans said, "I’d rather have a cow,
For milk and cheese, that’s better now."

The farmer traded, Hans felt glee,
With a cow, he felt so free.
At an inn, he stopped to eat and drink,
But soon he had no coins to clink.

Thirsty and hot, he tried to milk,
But the cow was dry, not smooth as silk.
A butcher next, with pig in cart,
Offered Hans a fresh new start.

"For your dry cow, take this swine,"
Hans agreed, thinking, "It's time to dine."
With a pig, Hans walked once more,
Till a boy with a goose came to the fore.

The boy said, "The pig’s not right,
Trade for the goose, it’s light and bright."
Hans made the trade, feeling glad,
Thinking of meals he’d soon have had.

Then met a man with a grindstone near,
Who said, "Trade for this, it’s worth more dear."
But the stone was heavy, hard to bear,
Hans dropped it in a stream with care.

Relieved of weight, he felt so free,
"No more burdens, just happy me!"
Hans reached home with nothing at all,
But felt the luckiest after all.

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Word Finder

  1. Wages

    Money paid for work done.

  2. Reward

    Something given for good behavior or work.

  3. Journey

    Traveling from one place to another.

  4. Valuable

    Worth a lot of money.

  5. Trade

    Exchange something for something else.

  6. Ditch

    A narrow, deep hole in the ground.

  7. Plowing

    Turning over soil to prepare for planting.

  8. Bragged

    Talked proudly about achievements.

  9. Relieved

    Feeling less worried or stressed.

  10. Exhausted

    Very tired and without energy.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why did Hans decide to leave his master and go home?
  2. What did Hans receive from his master as a reward for his hard work?
  3. Why did Hans agree to trade his gold for the rider's horse?
  4. What happened when Hans tried to ride the horse?
  5. What was Hans's final trade, and how did he feel after losing the grindstone?

Word Finder

  1. Master

    Someone who is in charge of others.

  2. Piece

    A part of something, like a slice.

  3. Gold

    A shiny yellow metal, very valuable.

  4. Horse

    A large animal people can ride.

  5. Swap

    To trade one thing for another.

  6. Farmer

    A person who grows food and raises animals.

  7. Thirsty

    Needing to drink water.

  8. Butcher

    A person who cuts and sells meat.

  9. Feathers

    Soft parts of a bird's body.

  10. Grindstone

    A stone for sharpening tools.

  1. Wages

    Money paid for work done.

  2. Reward

    Something given for good behavior or work.

  3. Journey

    Traveling from one place to another.

  4. Valuable

    Worth a lot of money.

  5. Trade

    Exchange something for something else.

  6. Ditch

    A narrow, deep hole in the ground.

  7. Plowing

    Turning over soil to prepare for planting.

  8. Bragged

    Talked proudly about achievements.

  9. Relieved

    Feeling less worried or stressed.

  10. Exhausted

    Very tired and without energy.

Understanding Questions

  1. What is the name of the young man in the story?

    1. Peter
    2. John
    3. Hans
    4. Mark
  2. What does the master give Hans as a reward?

    1. A horse
    2. A piece of gold
    3. A cow
    4. A goose
  3. Why does Hans want to swap his gold for a horse?

    1. He wants to give the horse to his mother.
    2. He thinks riding a horse looks easy.
    3. He is afraid of the gold.
    4. He likes horses.
  4. What problem does Hans have with the cow?

    1. The cow runs away.
    2. The cow has no milk.
    3. The cow is too slow.
    4. The cow is too heavy.
  5. How does Hans feel at the end of the story?

    1. Sad
    2. Angry
    3. Happy
    4. Scared
  1. Why did Hans decide to leave his master and go home?
  2. What did Hans receive from his master as a reward for his hard work?
  3. Why did Hans agree to trade his gold for the rider's horse?
  4. What happened when Hans tried to ride the horse?
  5. What was Hans's final trade, and how did he feel after losing the grindstone?
  1. What motivates Hans to begin his journey home, and what does he initially receive as a reward for his seven years of service?
  2. Explain the series of trades Hans makes throughout his journey. What does he start with, and what does he end up with?
  3. How does Hans' perception of value change from the beginning of the story to the end? Give specific examples of how his trades reflect this change.
  4. What challenges does Hans face with each new item he acquires, and how does he resolve these challenges?
  5. At the end of the story, why does Hans consider himself the "luckiest man alive," despite losing the grindstone? What lesson does he learn from his journey?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think Hans kept trading what he had for something else?
  2. How did Hans feel after each trade he made, and why did his feelings change?
  3. Can you think of a time when you thought something new would be better but it didn't turn out that way?
  4. Why is it important to think carefully before making decisions, like trading valuable items?
  5. What does this story teach us about the value of contentment and appreciating what we have?

Fable Quotes

"Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have."
"Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you."
"Every action you take has a ripple effect, influencing the path of your journey."
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