Foolish Hans

Page 1

Once upon a time there was a poor peasant woman. She lived near a small village with her son Hans. Now Hans was not very clever. In fact, he was quite foolish.

Page 2

One day his mother said to him, “ Take this big pot of honey to the village and sell it, but don’t let people talk to you too much.” She was worried that the villagers would talk Hans into giving them the honey at a very low price.

Page 3

So, off Hans went carrying the big pot of honey. When he arrived in the village he shouted, “Come and but my honey.” “How much is it?” asked the villagers. “Don’t talk so much,” said Hans.

Page 4

“ Can’t we ask how much it is? Said the villagers. “No, you are talking too much.” Said Hans. He picked up his big pot of honey and left the village. On his way home he came to a swarm of flies and bees.

Page 5

‘Buy my honey,” he said to the flies and bees. Of course they could not say anything to him. So, he poured the honey onto the ground and they flew to it straight away. “ You must pay me next week,” said Hans and taking the pot he went home.

Page 6

When he got home his mother saw the empty honey pot and said “Where is the money?” “ They will pay me next week,” said Hans. “Oh no!” thought his mother, “what has he done?”

Page 7

The next week, Hans went back to get his money from the flies and the bees. There were still some flies and bees there, licking the last of the honey from the ground. “I want my money,” said Hans. The flies and bees did not answer. “You have eaten my honey, you must pay,” he said. Still the flies and bees did not answer. “ Right, I shall tell the judge,” said Hans.

Page 8

Hans went to the judge’s house. The judge looked down at the little boy standing there. “What do you want little boy?” asked the judge. “The flies and bees ate all my honey but now they are refusing to pay,” said Hans.

Page 9

The judged laughed, then he saw that Hans was really rather a foolish boy so he said, “Well, all you can do it swat them. If you see a bee or a fly, you must swat it dead.” Just then a fly flew through an open window and landed on the judge’s nose. As quick as a flash, Hans swatted the fly on the judge’s nose. “Ahh, my nose,” said the judge. “I’m sorry,” said Hans, “I didn’t mean to hit your nose, just the fly.”

Page 10

The judge thought, “ Oh dear, he could really hurt someone if he goes about swatting flies and bees, people will soon get angry and ask who told him to do that?” So he asked Hans how much the honey cost.“300 florins,” said Hans. The judge opened a bag of florins he had under his desk and gave Hans 300 florins. ‘Foolish’ hand went home with a big smile on his face

Page 11

Foolish Hans

Page 12

Once upon a time there was a poor peasant woman. She lived near a small village with her son Hans. Now Hans was not very clever. In fact, he was quite foolish.

Page 13

One day his mother said to him, “ Take this big pot of honey to the village and sell it, but don’t let people talk to you too much.” She was worried that the villagers would talk Hans into giving them the honey at a very low price.

Page 14

So, off Hans went carrying the big pot of honey. When he arrived in the village he shouted, “Come and but my honey.” “How much is it?” asked the villagers. “Don’t talk so much,” said Hans.