Retold By Harlow Berny

Centuries ago, in a long forgotten kingdom, there was a foresighted and crafty peasant renowned for his trickery. The best story of his clever deception was when he made a deal with the devil and pulled the wool over his eyes. The peasant had been working in his field all day, and as he readied to journey back home with twilight setting in, he saw a pile of burning coals lying in the middle of the field. As he got closer, he was astonished to find a small black devil sitting on the pile, grinning with its golden teeth.

“Why are you sitting in that fire?” the peasant asked.

“I’m guarding my treasure,” responded the devil; “it has more gold and silver than you’ve ever seen in your life.”

The peasant thought for a bit, before saying, “If this treasure lies in my field, then it belongs to me. It’ll more than make up for the crops you’ve burned.” He gestured to the ashes and blackened leaves surrounding the coals.

“It’s yours, if you give me half of everything your field grows for two years. I have plenty of money hidden around the world, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth.”

“Fine,” said the peasant, “but so no disputes arise about the division, everything above ground shall be yours, and everything below shall be mine.”

The peasant and the devil agreed to these terms, with the devil believing he had gotten the better end. What he didn’t know, however, was that the peasant had sown turnips.

When a year had passed and the devil came again, the devil found nothing but withered leaves, while the delighted peasant dug up his turnips. “You’ve bested me this time,” said the devil, “but next year it won’t happen again. What grows above ground shall be yours, and what’s under shall be mine.” The peasant agreed to this, but when he sowed his crops, he used wheat seeds instead of turnip. The grain grew ripe, and the peasant cut the stalks down to the dirt. When the devil came once more, he found nothing but stubble and roots, and stomped off in a fury. “This might be my greatest trick yet!” shouted the peasant as he carried away his wheat and treasure.

 

Editor: Luke Langlois

A Re-Telling of Grimm’s