THE THREE SOLDIERS
by Joseph Jacobs · from Europa's Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Three friends were soldiers. They walked home from a big war. They were tired. They made a fire in the forest.
The Sergeant stood guard. An Old Woman came. "May I warm here?" she asked. The Sergeant said, "Yes, come." She gave a purse. Gold came from the purse.
Next night, The Corporal stood guard. The Old Woman came again. She gave him a tablecloth. It made good food.
Then The Private stood guard. The Old Woman came. She gave him a whistle. It made many helpers come.
The friends came to a city. A Princess lived there. She was proud. She liked to win games. She took special things from losers.
The Sergeant wanted to play. He thought he was good. He put his magic purse down.
The Princess did not play fair. She had a trick. She used a mirror. The Sergeant lost his purse.
The Sergeant was sad. He asked for the tablecloth. He played the Princess again. She cheated. He lost the tablecloth.
The Sergeant tried one more time. He played with the whistle. He lost it too. Then he knew. The Princess cheated him.
The Sergeant walked away. He found special trees. Black figs made horns. White figs took horns away.
The Sergeant had a clever idea. He sent black figs. They were a present for the Princess.
The Princess ate the figs. Oh no! She grew horns. She was very sad. She wanted them gone.
The Sergeant came back. He said, "I can help." He wanted his things. He wanted his tablecloth. He wanted his whistle.
The Princess said yes. The Sergeant gave a white fig. Her horns went away. She did not want to give his things.
The Sergeant blew his whistle. Many helpers came! The Princess saw he was strong. She saw he was clever. She knew she must be fair.
The Princess gave back the things. She saw The Sergeant was good. She saw he was clever. They got married. The Sergeant helped his friends. Everyone was happy.
Original Story
THE THREE SOLDIERS
Once upon a time three soldiers returned from the wars; one was a sergeant, one was a corporal, and the third was a simple private. One night they were caught in a forest and made a fire up to sleep by; and the sergeant had to do sentry-go. While he was walking up and down an old woman, bent double, came up to him and said:
"Please, sir, may I warm myself by your fire?"
"Why, certainly, mother, you are welcome to all the warmth you can get."
So the old woman sat by the fire for a time, and when she had got thoroughly warmed she said to the sergeant:
"Thank you, soldier; here is something for your trouble." And she handed him a purse, which seemed to have nothing in it.
"Oh, thank you, marm," said the sergeant, "but I wouldn't deprive you of it, especially as there is nothing in it."
"That may be so now," said the old woman, "but take it in your hand and turn it upside-down and, while you hold it like that gold pieces will come pouring out of it."
He took it, and, sure enough, whenever he held it up out came the gold pieces. So he thanked her very much, and off she went.
Next night the corporal had to play sentry, and the old woman came up to him and asked to sit by the side of the fire.
"Certainly, marm," said he, "and welcome you are. I have known what it is to shiver in my bones."
So the old woman sat by the fire for a time, and when she was leaving gave the corporal a tablecloth.
Said he, "Thank you, marm, kindly, but we soldiers rarely use tablecloths when we are eating our vittles."
"Yes, but this gives you vittles to eat," said the old woman. "Whenever you put this over a table or on the ground and call out 'Be covered!' the finest dinner you could eat at once comes upon it."
"If that is so," said the corporal, "I'll take it and thank you kindly." And with that the old woman departed, and the corporal woke up his comrades and called out: "Tablecloth be covered!" And, sure enough, the finest dinner you could imagine appeared upon the cloth.
Next night the private marched up and down doing sentry-go, when the old woman appeared again and asked to sit by the fire.
"Surely," said the private, "you're as welcome as my own mother would be."
And after she had sat some time by the fire she got up and said:
"Thank you kindly, sir; I hope this will pay you for your trouble." And she gave him a whistle.
"And what's this for?" said the private. "I can't play on the whistle."
"But you can blow it," said she, "and whenever you blow it out will come a regiment of armed men that will do whatever you tell them."
And with that the old woman departed, and they never saw her more.
So the three soldiers travelled on till they came to a city where there was a princess, who was so proud of her card playing that she had agreed to marry any one who could beat her at cards. Now the sergeant was also very proud of his card playing, and he thought he would try his luck with the princess. So when he went up to the palace he offered to play a game with her, but she said to him:
"What are your stakes? If I lose I have to marry you. But if you lose what do you lose?"
So the sergeant said: "I'll stake my purse."
"Why, what's a purse with nothing in it!" said the princess.
"There may be nothing in it now," said the sergeant, "but see here," and he turned the purse upside-down and put his hand under it, and it kept on dropping gold pieces into his hand as long as he held it upside-down.
So the princess agreed to play for the purse. But she had arranged a mirror at the back of his head in which she could see all his cards. And so she won easily, and he had to give up the purse.
But this princess was so charming that the sergeant had fallen in love with her, and when he went back to his comrades he asked the corporal to lend him his tablecloth. And he went back to the princess and said to her:
"Will you play me for this tablecloth?"
And she said: "It may be a very beautiful tablecloth but it isn't quite equal to me."
Then he laid it on a table and said, "Cloth, cover thyself." And there was a most delicious dinner spread upon it.
But, as the princess knew she would be able to beat him, she agreed to play him for the tablecloth, and, sure enough, by means of the mirror, she won the tablecloth from him.
The same thing happened when he borrowed the whistle from the private and tried his luck with the princess again. But this time he watched what she was doing, and knew that she had cheated him though he dared not say so. He lost again and went back to his comrades and asked them to forgive him, but he could not help it as the princess had cheated him. So his friends forgave him, and they all went their various ways.
Now the sergeant wandered along, and wandered along, and wandered along, till he came to the bank of a stream on which there grew fig trees, white and black. And he gathered some of these figs from the different trees, and sat down by the bank to eat them. And he ate a black fig, and then, feeling thirsty, went down to the stream to drink some of the water, and as he looked in he found that he had two horns on the side of his head just like a goat, instead of two ears. He didn't know what to do; but as he was still hungry he ate one of the white figs; and when he went to drink again he found the horns had disappeared. So then he knew that the black figs brought the horns and the white figs took them away. So he gathered some more of them and went back to the palace of the princess, and sent her up some of the black figs as a present from an admirer.
And after a while there was a rumour spread around the city that the princess had horns in her head, and would give anything to any one who could remove them.
So the sergeant went up to the palace and presented himself before the princess and said to her:
"I can remove your horns, but I want my purse, and my tablecloth, and my whistle back."
Then she ordered them to be brought and promised to give them back to him as soon as the horns were removed.
So he gave her a white fig, and as soon as she had eaten it the horns disappeared; and he took up the purse, the tablecloth, and the whistle. Then he said to her:
"Now, will you marry me?"
"No," she replied, "why should I?"
"Because you didn't win these fairly."
"That may be, or that may not be, but I see no reason why I should marry you."
Thereupon he blew his whistle, and the palace was filled with a regiment of soldiers. And the sergeant said:
"If you do not marry me these men shall seize your father and I will seize his throne."
So the princess married him, and he sent for the corporal and the private and made them rich and prosperous, and they all lived fairly happily together.
Story DNA
Moral
Cheating and pride can lead to unexpected and humiliating consequences, while cleverness can outwit even the most powerful.
Plot Summary
Three soldiers returning from war are each given a magical item by an old woman they helped: a gold-producing purse, a food-producing tablecloth, and a whistle that summons an army. The sergeant, confident in his card skills, challenges a proud princess who cheats him out of all three items. Realizing he was tricked, the sergeant discovers magical figs that cause and remove horns. He sends the horn-inducing figs to the princess, causing her to grow horns. He then offers to cure her in exchange for his items, and when she still refuses to marry him, he uses the whistle to summon an army and forces her hand, ultimately making his comrades rich and living happily.
Themes
Emotional Arc
disappointment to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects common folk tale motifs of magical gifts, trickery, and social mobility through wit, often seen in European traditions.
Plot Beats (16)
- Three soldiers (sergeant, corporal, private) are returning from war and make a fire in a forest.
- An old woman approaches the sergeant on sentry duty, asks to warm herself, and in return gives him a magic purse that produces gold.
- The next night, the old woman gives the corporal a magic tablecloth that produces any meal.
- The third night, the old woman gives the private a magic whistle that summons a regiment of armed men.
- The soldiers arrive in a city where a proud princess wagers marriage against card players.
- The sergeant, confident in his card skills, challenges the princess, staking his magic purse.
- The princess cheats using a hidden mirror and wins the magic purse from the sergeant.
- The sergeant, smitten with the princess, borrows the corporal's tablecloth and loses it to the princess through cheating.
- The sergeant then borrows the private's whistle, loses it to the princess through cheating, but realizes he was cheated.
- The sergeant wanders off, discovers fig trees that grow black figs (cause horns) and white figs (remove horns).
- He gathers both types of figs and sends the black figs to the princess as a gift from an admirer.
- The princess eats the black figs and grows horns, causing a city-wide rumor and her desperation for a cure.
- The sergeant presents himself as a horn-remover, demanding his purse, tablecloth, and whistle back as payment.
- After the princess agrees and he cures her with a white fig, she refuses to marry him.
- The sergeant blows his whistle, summons an army, and threatens to seize her father's throne if she doesn't marry him.
- The princess marries the sergeant, who then sends for his comrades and makes them rich and prosperous.
Characters
The Sergeant ★ protagonist
A man of average height and sturdy build, hardened by military service. His face shows signs of experience, perhaps a few lines around the eyes from squinting in the sun. His hands are calloused. He carries himself with the disciplined posture of a non-commissioned officer.
Attire: Initially, a worn but functional military uniform, likely a European style from the 18th or 19th century, consisting of a dark wool jacket with brass buttons, a white linen shirt, breeches, and sturdy leather boots. Later, after acquiring wealth, he might wear more refined civilian clothes, but still practical and well-tailored, perhaps a dark frock coat and trousers.
Wants: Initially, to return home from war and perhaps find a better life. Later, driven by love for the princess and a desire to reclaim what was unfairly taken from him.
Flaw: His pride in his card-playing and his initial infatuation with the princess make him vulnerable to her deception.
Starts as a proud but somewhat gullible soldier, loses his magical items due to his pride and the princess's trickery, but learns from his mistakes, becomes more cunning, and ultimately reclaims his items and wins the princess.
Proud, strategic, persistent, somewhat naive in love, but ultimately clever and determined.
Image Prompt & Upload
A European adult man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has short, practical dark brown hair, observant hazel eyes, and a weathered but intelligent face. He wears a dark blue wool military jacket with brass buttons, a white linen shirt, beige breeches, and sturdy brown leather boots. He holds a small, plain leather purse in his right hand. He has a determined and slightly cunning expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Corporal ◆ supporting
A man of average build, perhaps slightly stockier than the sergeant, with a practical, no-nonsense demeanor. His movements are efficient.
Attire: A worn but serviceable military uniform, similar to the sergeant's but perhaps with fewer distinctions of rank. Dark wool jacket, linen shirt, breeches, and practical boots.
Wants: To survive and support his comrades. He values comfort and good food.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown, but perhaps a lack of ambition or strategic thinking compared to the sergeant.
Remains largely consistent, a loyal and supportive comrade.
Practical, empathetic (sympathizes with shivering), generous, and loyal to his comrades.
Image Prompt & Upload
A European adult man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has short, dark, practical hair, brown eyes, and a sturdy, honest face. He wears a dark green wool military jacket with simple brass buttons, a cream linen shirt, dark breeches, and sturdy brown leather boots. He holds a folded white linen tablecloth in his hands. He has a straightforward and reliable expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Private ◆ supporting
Likely the youngest of the three, perhaps a bit leaner, but still robust from military service. His movements might be a little less seasoned than his comrades.
Attire: The most basic military uniform, likely a dark wool jacket, linen shirt, breeches, and boots, showing more wear than the others.
Wants: To serve and survive. He values camaraderie.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown, but his initial confusion about the whistle suggests a less imaginative or strategic mind.
Remains largely consistent, a loyal and supportive comrade.
Kind, welcoming, perhaps a bit naive, but loyal and courageous when needed.
Image Prompt & Upload
A European young adult man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has short, light brown hair, friendly blue eyes, and a youthful, earnest face. He wears a dark grey wool military jacket, a white linen shirt, dark breeches, and sturdy brown leather boots. He holds a small, simple wooden whistle in his right hand. He has a kind and slightly curious expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Woman ◆ supporting
Bent double with age, suggesting frailty, but possessing an underlying magical power. Her movements are slow but deliberate.
Attire: Simple, dark, and worn peasant clothing, perhaps a dark wool cloak, a plain linen dress, and sturdy, comfortable shoes. Nothing ostentatious, blending into the forest environment.
Wants: To test the soldiers' characters and reward those who show compassion.
Flaw: None apparent; she seems to be a powerful magical being.
Remains consistent as a magical benefactor.
Mysterious, benevolent, observant, and wise. She rewards kindness and generosity.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly European woman, severely bent double, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a deeply wrinkled face, kind but knowing dark eyes, and sparse white hair pulled back in a simple bun. She wears a dark grey, patched wool cloak over a simple brown linen dress, and worn leather shoes. She has a gentle, slightly mysterious expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Princess ⚔ antagonist
Charming and beautiful, with an air of regality and confidence. She is likely slender and graceful, befitting a princess.
Attire: Luxurious and fashionable European court attire from the 18th or 19th century. Rich silk or velvet gowns in vibrant colors like emerald green or sapphire blue, adorned with lace, embroidery, and perhaps subtle jewels. A high neckline and full skirt would be appropriate. She would wear fine leather slippers.
Wants: To maintain her pride and independence, to win at all costs, and to avoid marriage unless truly compelled.
Flaw: Her excessive pride and her reliance on deceit. She underestimates the sergeant's cleverness.
Starts as a proud and deceitful antagonist, is humiliated by the horns, and is ultimately forced to marry the sergeant, suggesting a humbling experience and a change in her circumstances, if not her core personality.
Proud, cunning, deceitful, charming, and initially arrogant. She values her independence and winning.
Image Prompt & Upload
A European young adult woman, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has an exquisitely beautiful face with sharp, intelligent emerald green eyes and long, intricately styled golden blonde hair adorned with small pearls. She wears a luxurious emerald green silk gown with a fitted bodice, wide skirt, and delicate lace trim at the sleeves and neckline. She has a proud, slightly disdainful expression, with two small, dark goat-like horns subtly emerging from her temples. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Forest Clearing
A secluded spot within a dense forest, where three soldiers have made a fire for the night. The ground is likely covered with fallen leaves and twigs, and the surrounding trees create a sense of enclosure.
Mood: Quiet, watchful, slightly mysterious due to the old woman's appearance.
The soldiers encounter the magical old woman and receive their enchanted items.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, crackling campfire illuminates a circular clearing in a dense, dark temperate forest. Tall, straight tree trunks rise into the inky blackness, their lower branches barely visible. The ground is a scattering of dry leaves and pine needles, with a few smooth stones forming a ring around the fire. Soft, warm light from the fire casts long, dancing shadows of the trees and figures. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Royal Palace of the Princess
A grand, opulent palace in a European city, likely with large rooms for entertaining and playing cards. The princess's private chambers or a dedicated game room would feature a table and a hidden mirror.
Mood: Luxurious, cunning, later tense and filled with soldiers.
The sergeant attempts to win the princess's hand and his items back, leading to her humiliation and their eventual marriage.
Image Prompt & Upload
An opulent European Baroque palace interior, featuring high vaulted ceilings adorned with frescoes and gilded stucco. Polished marble floors reflect the light from tall, arched windows draped with heavy velvet curtains. A large, intricately carved wooden card table stands center, surrounded by plush, upholstered chairs. Sunlight streams through the windows, illuminating dust motes in the air and highlighting the rich textures of tapestries on the walls. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Stream Bank with Fig Trees
The bank of a flowing stream, lined with distinct black and white fig trees. The ground would be soft earth, possibly with some pebbles near the water's edge. The stream itself would be clear, reflecting the sky.
Mood: Initially peaceful and natural, then a place of magical discovery and transformation.
The sergeant discovers the magical properties of the figs, which he uses to trick the princess.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-dappled stream bank in a warm, Mediterranean-like climate. The clear, shallow stream meanders over smooth river stones, reflecting the bright blue sky. Along the bank, two distinct types of fig trees grow: one with dark, ripe figs and another with pale, green-white figs, their broad leaves casting dappled shadows on the earthy bank. Wild grasses and small wildflowers grow between the trees. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
