Grimm's Household Tales

Once upon a time there was a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks were much talked about. The best story is, however, how he once got hold of the Devil and made a fool of him. One day the peasant had been working in his field, and as twilight had set in, he was making ready for the journey home when he saw a heap of burning coals in the middle of his field. When, full of astonishment, he went up to it, a little black devil was sitting on the live coals. “You are indeed sitting on a treasure!” said the peasant. “Yes, in truth,” replied the Devil, “on a treasure that contains more gold and silver than you have ever seen in your life!” “The treasure lies in my field and belongs to me,” said the peasant. “It is yours,” answered the Devil, “if you will give me half of everything your field produces for two years. I have money enough, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth.” The peasant agreed to the bargain. “In order that no dispute may arise about the division, however,” he said, “everything that is above ground will belong to you, and what is under the earth to me.” The Devil was quite satisfied with that, but the cunning peasant had sown turnips.

Now when the time for harvest came, the Devil appeared and wanted to take away the crop that was his, but he found nothing except the yellow, withered leaves, while the peasant, full of delight, was digging up his turnips. “You have had the best of it for once,” said the Devil, “but the next time that will not do. What grows above ground shall be yours, and what is under it, mine.” “I am willing,” replied the peasant; but when the time came to sow, he did not sow turnips again but wheat. The grain became ripe, and the peasant went into the field and cut the full stalks down to the ground. When the Devil came, he found nothing but the stubble, and he went away in a fury down into a cleft in the rocks. “That is the way to cheat the Devil,” said the peasant, and he went and carried away the treasure.