Hans Dumm

Once there is a boy named Hans. Everyone calls him silly. But Hans is very kind. He lives in a small house. He smiles at everyone. People laugh at Hans. Hans laughs too. He is a happy boy.

One day Hans walks to the forest. He has bread in his bag. A small old man sits by a tree. The old man looks hungry. "Hello," Hans says. "Are you hungry?" The old man nods. Hans gives him his bread. The old man eats and smiles. "Thank you, kind boy," he says. He gives Hans a goose. But this goose is golden! The feathers shine like the sun.

Hans carries the golden goose. He walks back to the village. A girl sees the golden feathers. "So pretty!" she says. She touches the goose. Oh no! Her hand sticks to it! She cannot let go. A boy runs over. He pulls the girl's arm. Oh no! He sticks too! Now he cannot let go. An old woman comes to help. She pushes the boy. Oh no! She sticks too! Now three people walk with Hans. They all laugh and laugh. It is so silly!

Far away there is a big castle. The King lives there. The Princess lives there too. But the Princess is always sad. She never laughs. The King is worried. "Oh dear," the King says. "Please help my girl smile." He tells everyone. "Make the Princess laugh. Then you can be her friend."

Hans walks by the castle. The golden goose walks with him. The girl walks with the goose. The boy walks with the girl. The old woman walks with the boy. The Princess looks out her window. She sees the funny line of people. They bump into each other. They wiggle and wobble. The Princess smiles. Then she laughs. "Ha ha ha!" She laughs and laughs. She cannot stop!

The King runs to the window. He sees the Princess laugh. "How wonderful!" the King says. He is so happy. The Princess runs outside. The stuck people come unstuck! Everyone dances together. The Princess dances with Hans. The King claps his hands. Everyone laughs and sings. Kind Hans made everyone happy. And kind Hans has many friends now.