The Family Servants
by Unknown · from Tales of Laughter: A third fairy book
Adapted Version
Once upon a time. A First Woman walked on a path. She saw a Second Woman. She stopped. She smiled.
"Hello!" said the First Woman. "Where do you go?"
"I go to Walpe," she said. The First Woman was happy. She clapped her hands. "I go to Walpe too!"
"You go to Walpe?" "Yes!" said the First Woman. "I to Walpe. You to Walpe." "So, so, we both go." They walked on the path.
The First Woman asked a thing. "Do you have a husband?" The Second Woman smiled. "Yes, I do." "What is his name?" "His name is Sam."
The First Woman laughed. "My husband is Sam too!" "Your husband Sam?" "Yes! My husband Sam!" "My husband Sam. Your husband Sam." "I to Walpe. You to Walpe." "So, so, we both go."
The First Woman asked again. "Do you have a child?" The Second Woman smiled. "Yes, I do." "What is her name?" "Her name is Lily."
The First Woman laughed. "My child is Lily too!" "Your child Lily?" "Yes! My child Lily!" "My child Lily. Your child Lily." "I to Walpe. You to Walpe." "So, so, we both go."
The First Woman asked again. "Do you have a cradle?" The Second Woman nodded. "Yes, I do." "What is its name?" "It is Little Cradle."
The First Woman clapped her hands. "My cradle is Little Cradle too!" "Your cradle Little Cradle?" "Yes!" They were happy. "I to Walpe. You to Walpe." "So, so, we both go."
The First Woman asked once more. "Do you have a Good Helper?" The Second Woman smiled. "Yes, I do." "What is his name?" "He is Good Helper." "He helps in my home."
The First Woman laughed. "My helper is Good Helper too!" "Your helper Good Helper?" "Yes! My Good Helper!" They were very happy now.
"I to Walpe. You to Walpe." "So, so, we both go."
The two women walked on. They smiled at each other. They had much in common. They walked to Walpe. They walked side by side.
Original Story
The Family Servants
“Where are you going to?” “To Walpe.”
“I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.”
“Have you got a husband? How do you call your husband?”
“Cham.” “My husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.”
“Have you got a child? How do you call your child?”
“Grild.” “My child Grild, your child Grild; my husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.”
“Have you got a cradle? How do you call your cradle?”
“Hippodadle.” “My cradle Hippodadle, your cradle Hippodadle; my child Grild, your child Grild; my husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.”
“Have you got a man? How do you call your man?”
“Do-as-well-as-you-can.” “My man Do-as-well-as-you-can, your man Do-as-well-as-you-can; my cradle Hippodadle, your cradle Hippodadle; my child Grild, your child Grild; my husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.”
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Two individuals meet on their way to Walpe. Through a series of questions, they discover they share a husband named Cham, a child named Grild, a cradle named Hippodadle, and a 'man' named Do-as-well-as-you-can. With each shared discovery, they affirm their connection and continue their journey together, reinforcing their companionship through cumulative repetition.
Themes
Emotional Arc
neutral to joyful
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale is a classic example of a cumulative folk tale, often used for entertainment and memory exercises, common across many cultures.
Plot Beats (10)
- Two people meet and one asks the other where they are going.
- Both confirm they are going to Walpe and decide to go together.
- One asks the other about their husband's name, which is Cham.
- They affirm their shared husband's name and continue their journey.
- One asks the other about their child's name, which is Grild.
- They affirm their shared child's name and continue their journey.
- One asks the other about their cradle's name, which is Hippodadle.
- They affirm their shared cradle's name and continue their journey.
- One asks the other about their 'man's' name, which is Do-as-well-as-you-can.
- They affirm their shared 'man's' name and continue their journey, having established many shared connections.
Characters
First Servant
Of average height and sturdy build, accustomed to manual labor. Her hands are likely calloused from work. Her complexion is probably weathered from outdoor exposure, suggesting a life of service.
Attire: A practical, durable working dress made of coarse linen or wool, likely in muted earth tones like grey, brown, or faded blue. She would wear a simple apron over it, and sturdy, low-heeled leather shoes or wooden clogs. Her clothing would be clean but well-worn, without any ornamentation.
Wants: To reach Walpe, and perhaps to find common ground and companionship with her fellow traveler.
Flaw: Her repetitive nature and perhaps a lack of imagination, as she simply echoes the other servant's responses.
She doesn't undergo a significant arc, but rather establishes a bond of shared experience with the Second Servant.
Practical, direct, curious, and somewhat repetitive in her speech. She seems to value shared experiences and companionship.
Second Servant
Similar to the First Servant, of average height and a sturdy, working build. Her hands would show signs of labor, and her complexion would be accustomed to the elements.
Attire: A durable working dress made of coarse linen or wool, possibly in a different muted color like dark green or deep brown. She would also wear a simple apron and sturdy, low-heeled leather shoes or wooden clogs. Her clothes would be functional and well-maintained despite their age.
Wants: To reach Walpe, and to share details of her life with a fellow traveler.
Flaw: Her tendency to be overly descriptive and perhaps a bit verbose in her responses, leading to the repetitive dialogue.
She doesn't undergo a significant arc, but rather establishes a bond of shared experience with the First Servant.
Open, willing to share, and also somewhat repetitive. She seems to enjoy the process of discovery and connection.
Locations
Road to Walpe
A simple, unpaved country road, likely winding through fields or light woods, connecting two villages. The atmosphere is open and conducive to conversation.
Mood: open, conversational, mundane, slightly repetitive
Two women meet and begin a repetitive, accumulating conversation as they travel together.