Grimm's Household Tales

There were once two brothers, one rich and the other poor. The rich one, however, gave nothing to the poor one, who earned a scanty living by trading in grain and often did so badly that he had no bread for his wife and children. Once, when he was pushing a wheelbarrow through the forest, he saw to one side of him a great, bare, naked-looking mountain, and since he had never seen it before, he stood still and stared at it in amazement.

While he was standing there, he saw twelve huge, wild men coming toward him, and since he believed they were robbers, he pushed his wheelbarrow into the thicket, climbed up a tree, and waited to see what would happen. The twelve men, however, went to the mountain and called out, “Semsi Mountain, Semsi Mountain, open!” and immediately the barren mountain opened down the middle, and the twelve went into it, and as soon as they were inside, it shut. After a short time, however, it opened again, and the men came out carrying heavy sacks on their shoulders. When they were all in the daylight once more, they said, “Semsi Mountain, Semsi Mountain, shut yourself!” Then the mountain closed up, and no entrance could be seen any longer, and the twelve went away.

When they were quite out of sight, the poor man got down from the tree. He was curious to know what was really hidden away in the mountain. So he went up to it and said, “Semsi Mountain, Semsi Mountain, open!” and the mountain opened for him too. Then he went inside, and the whole mountain was a cavern full of silver and gold, and behind that lay great piles of pearls and sparkling jewels, heaped up like grain. The poor man hardly knew what to do or whether he might take any of these treasures for himself, but at last he filled his pockets with gold, while he left the pearls and precious stones where they were. When he came out again, he also said, “Semsi Mountain, Semsi Mountain, shut yourself!” and the mountain closed itself, and he went home with his wheelbarrow.

And now he had no more cause for anxiety but could buy bread for his wife and children with his gold, and wine into the bargain. He lived joyfully and honorably, helped the poor, and did good to everyone. When the money ran out, however, he went to his brother, borrowed a measure that held a bushel, and fetched himself some more, but he did not touch any of the most valuable things. When he wanted to fetch something for the third time, he again borrowed the measure from his brother. The rich man, however, had long been envious of his brother’s possessions and of the fine way of living that he had established, and he could not understand where the riches came from and what his brother needed the measure for. Then he thought of a cunning trick: he covered the bottom of the measure with pitch, and when he got the measure back, a piece of money was sticking to it. He went at once to his brother and asked him, “What have you been measuring in the bushel measure?” “Grain and barley,” said the other. Then he showed him the piece of money and threatened that if he did not tell the truth, he would accuse him before a court of justice. The poor man then told him everything, just as it had happened. The rich man, however, ordered his carriage to be made ready and drove away, resolved to use the opportunity better than his brother had done and to bring back quite different treasures.

When he came to the mountain, he called out, “Semsi Mountain, Semsi Mountain, open!” The mountain opened, and he went inside it. There lay the treasures all before him, and for a long time he did not know which to grab first. At last he loaded himself with as many precious stones as he could carry. He wished to carry his burden outside, but because his heart and soul were completely full of the treasures, he had forgotten the name of the mountain and called out, “Simeli Mountain, Simeli Mountain, open!” That, however, was not the right name, and the mountain did not stir but remained shut. Then he was alarmed, but the longer he thought about it, the more his thoughts became confused, and his treasures were of no use to him. In the evening the mountain opened, and the twelve robbers came in, and when they saw him, they laughed and cried out, “Bird, we have caught you at last! Did you think we had never noticed that you had been in here twice? We could not catch you then, but this third time you will not get out again!” Then he cried, “It was not I; it was my brother!” But no matter how he begged for his life and whatever he said, they cut his head off.