Grimm's Household Tales

“Good day, Father Hollenthe.” “Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I marry your daughter?” “Oh, yes, if Mother Malcho (milk cow), Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister Käsetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you may marry her.”

“Where is Mother Malcho, then?” “She is in the cow barn, milking the cow.”

“Good day, Mother Malcho.” “Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I marry your daughter?” “Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister Käsetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you may marry her.” “Where is Brother High-and-Mighty, then?” “He is in the room chopping some wood.” “Good day, Brother High-and-Mighty.” “Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I marry your sister?” “Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Sister Käsetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you may marry her.” “Where is Sister Käsetraut, then?” “She is in the garden cutting cabbages.” “Good day, Sister Käsetraut.” “Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “May I marry your sister?” “Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you may marry her.” “Where is fair Katrinelje, then?” “She is in the room counting out her farthings.” “Good day, fair Katrinelje.” “Many thanks, Pif-paf-poltrie.” “Will you be my bride?” “Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, and Sister Käsetraut are willing, I am ready.”

“Fair Katrinelje, how much dowry do you have?” “Fourteen farthings in ready money, three and a half groschen owed to me, half a pound of dried apples, a handful of fried bread, and a handful of spices.

“And many other things are mine.
Isn’t my dowry fine?”

“Pif-paf-poltrie, what is your trade? Are you a tailor?” “Something better.” “A shoemaker?” “Something better.” “A farmer?” “Something better.” “A joiner?” “Something better.” “A blacksmith?” “Something better.” “A miller?” “Something better.” “Perhaps a broom maker?” “Yes, that’s what I am. Isn’t it a fine trade?”