"But what have you brought back with you from your apprenticeship?"　　"Father, the best thing which I have brought back with me is this little table."　　The tailor inspected it on all sides and said, "You did not make a masterpiece when you made this. It is a bad old table."　　"But it is a table-be-set," replied the son. "When I set it out, and tell it to set itself, the most beautiful dishes immediately appear on it, and wine also, which gladdens the heart. Just invite all our relatives and friends. They shall refresh and enjoy themselves for once, for the table will fill them all."　　When the company was assembled, he put his table in the middle of the room and said, "Table be set," but the little table did not move, and remained just as bare as any other table which does not understand language. Then the poor journeyman became aware that his table had been changed, and was ashamed at having to stand there like a liar. The relatives, however, mocked him, and were forced to go home without having eaten or drunk.　　The father brought out his scraps again, and went on tailoring, but the son found work with a master joiner.　　The second son had gone to a miller and had apprenticed himself to him. When his years were over, the master said, "As you have conducted yourself so well, I give you a donkey of a peculiar kind, which neither draws a cart nor carries a sack."　　"What good is he then?" asked the young journeyman.　　"He spews forth gold," answered the miller. "If you set him on a cloth and say 'Bricklebrit,' the good animal will spew forth gold pieces for you from back and front."　　"That is a fine thing," said the journeyman, and thanked the master, and went out into the world. When he had need of gold, he had only to say "Bricklebrit" to his donkey, and it rained gold pieces, and he had nothing to do but pick them off the ground. Wherever he went, the best of everything was good enough for him, and the more expensive the better, for he had always a full purse. When he had looked about the world for some time, he thought, "You must seek out your father. If you go to him with the gold-donkey he will forget his anger, and receive you well."　　It came to pass that he came to the same inn in which his brother's table had been exchanged. He led his donkey by the bridle, and the host was about to take the animal from him and tie him up, but the young journeyman said, "Don't trouble yourself, I will take my nag into the stable, and tie him up myself too, for I must know where he is."　　This struck the host as odd, and he thought that a man who was forced to look after his donkey himself, could not have much to spend. But when the stranger put his hand in his pocket and brought out two gold pieces, and said he was to provide something good for him, the host opened his eyes wide, and ran and sought out the best he could muster. After dinner the guest asked what he owed. The innkeeper did not see why he should not double the bill, and said the journeyman must give two more gold pieces. He felt in his pocket, but his gold was just at an end.　　"Wait an instant, sir," said he, "I will go and fetch some money." But he took the tablecloth with him. The innkeeper could not imagine what this meant, and being curious, stole after him, and as the guest bolted the stable door, he peeped through a hole left by a knot in the wood.　　The stranger spread out the cloth under the animal and cried, "Bricklebrit," and immediately the beast began to let gold pieces fall from back and front, so that it fairly rained down money onto the ground.　　"Eh, my word," said the innkeeper. "Ducats are quickly coined there. A purse like that is not bad." The guest paid his bill and went to bed, but in the night the innkeeper stole down into the stable, led away the master of the mint, and tied up another donkey in his place.　　Early next morning the journeyman traveled away with his donkey, and thought that he had his gold-donkey. At midday he reached his father, who rejoiced to see him again, and gladly took him in.　　"What have you made of yourself, my son?" asked the old man.　　"A miller, dear father," he answered.　　"What have you brought back with you from your travels."　　"Nothing else but a donkey."　　"There are donkeys enough here," said the father, "I would rather have had a good goat."　　"Yes," replied the son, "but it is no common donkey, but a gold-donkey. When I say 'Bricklebrit' the good beast spews forth a whole sheetful of gold pieces. Just summon all our relatives here, and I will make them rich folks."　　"That suits me well," said the tailor, "for then I shall have no need to torment myself any longer with the needle," and he himself ran out and called the relatives together. As soon as they were assembled, the miller bade them make way, spread out his cloth, and brought the donkey into the room.　　"Now watch," said he, and cried, "Bricklebrit," but what fell were not gold pieces, and it was clear that the animal knew nothing of the art, for not every donkey attains such perfection. Then the poor miller made a long face, saw that he had been betrayed, and begged pardon of the relatives, who went home as poor as they came. There was no help for it, the old man had to take up his needle once more, and the youth hired himself to a miller.　　The third brother had apprenticed himself to a turner, and as that is skilled labor, he was the longest in learning. His brothers, however, told him in a letter how badly things had gone with them, and how the innkeeper had cheated them of their beautiful wishing gifts on the last evening before they reached home. When the turner had served his time, and was about to set forth, as he had conducted himself so well, his master presented him with a sack saying, "There is a cudgel in it."　　"I can take the sack with me," said he, "and it may serve me well, but why should the cudgel be in it. It only makes it heavy."　　"I will tell you why," replied the master. "If anyone has done anything to injure you, do but say, 'Cudgel out of the sack,' and the cudgel will leap forth among the people, and play such a dance on their backs that they will not be able to stir or move for a week. And it will not quit until you say, 'Cudgel into the sack.'"　　The journeyman thanked him, and put the sack on his back, and when anyone came too near him and wished to attack him, he said, "Cudgel out of the sack," and instantly the cudgel sprang out and beat the dust out of their coats and jackets, right on their backs, not waiting until they had taken them off, and it was done so quickly, that before anyone was aware, it was already his own turn.　　In the evening the young turner reached the inn where his brothers had been cheated. He laid his sack on the table before him, and began to talk of all the wonderful things which he had seen in the world. "Yes," said he, "table-be-sets, gold-donkeys, and things of that kind —- extremely good things which I by no means despise -- but these are nothing in comparison with the treasure which I have obtained and am carrying about with me here in my sack."　　The innkeeper pricked up his ears. "What in the world can that be?" he thought. "The sack must be filled with nothing but jewels. I ought to get them cheap too, for all good things come in threes."　　When it was time for sleep, the guest stretched himself out on the bench, laying his sack beneath him for a pillow. When the innkeeper thought his guest was lying in a sound sleep, he went to him and pushed and pulled quite gently and carefully at the sack to see if he could possibly take it away and lay another in its place.　　The turner, however, had been waiting for this for a long time, and now just as the innkeeper was about to give a hearty tug, he cried, "Cudgel out of the sack!"　　Instantly the little cudgel came forth, and falling on the innkeeper gave him a sound thrashing. The innkeeper cried for mercy, but the louder he cried, the harder the cudgel beat the time on his back, until at length he fell to the ground exhausted.　　Then the turner said, "If you do not give back the table-be-set and the gold-donkey, the dance shall start again from the beginning."　　"Oh, no!" cried the innkeeper, quite humbly, "I will gladly give everything back, only make the accursed kobold creep back into the sack."Then the journeyman said, "I will let mercy take the place of justice, but beware of getting into mischief again" Then he cried, "Cudgel into the sack," and let him rest.　　Next morning the turner went home to his father with the table-be-set, and the gold-donkey. The tailor rejoiced when he saw him once more, and asked him likewise what he had learned in foreign parts. "Dear father," said he, "I have become a turner."　　"A skilled trade," said the father. "What have you brought back with you from your travels?"　　"A precious thing, dear father," replied the son, "a cudgel in the sack."　　"What!" cried the father, "A cudgel! That's worth your trouble! From every tree you can cut yourself one."　　"But not one like this, dear father. If I say, 'Cudgel out of the sack,' the cudgel springs out and leads anyone ill-disposed toward me a weary dance, and never stops until he lies on the ground and prays for fair weather. Look you, with this cudgel have I rescued the table-be-set and the gold-donkey which the thievish innkeeper took away from my brothers. Now let them both be sent for, and invite all our relatives. I will give them to eat and to drink, and will fill their pockets with gold as well."　　The old tailor had not much confidence. Nevertheless he summoned the relatives together. Then the turner spread a cloth in the room and led in the gold-donkey, and said to his brother, "Now, dear brother, speak to him."　　The miller said, "Bricklebrit," and instantly the gold pieces rained down on the cloth like a cloudburst, and the donkey did not stop until every one of them had so much that he could carry no more. (I can see by your face that you would have liked to be there as well.)　　Then the turner brought out the little table and said, "Now, dear brother, speak to it." And scarcely had the joiner said, "Table be set," than it was spread and amply covered with the most exquisite dishes. Then such a meal took place as the good tailor had never yet known in his house, and the whole party of relatives stayed together until after nightfall, and were all merry and glad. The tailor locked his needle and thread and yardstick and pressing iron into a chest, and lived with his three sons in joy and splendor.　　What, however, happened to the goat who was to blame for the tailor driving out his three sons? That I will tell you.　　She was ashamed that she had a bald head, and ran to a fox's hole and crept into it. When the fox came home, he was met by two great eyes shining out of the darkness, and was terrified and ran away. A bear met him, and as the fox looked quite disturbed, he said, "What is the matter with you, Brother Fox, why do you look like that?"　　"Ah," answered Redskin, "a fierce beast is in my cave and stared at me with its fiery eyes."　　"We will soon drive him out," said the bear, and went with him to the cave and looked in, but when he saw the fiery eyes, fear seized on him likewise. He would have nothing to do with the furious beast, and took to his heels.　　The bee met him, and as she saw that he was ill at ease, she said, "Bear, you are really pulling a very pitiful face. What has become of all your cheerfulness?"　　"It is all very well for you to talk," replied the bear. "A furious beast with staring eyes is in Redskin's house, and we can't drive him out."　　The bee said, "Bear, I pity you. I am a poor weak creature whom you would not turn aside to look at, but still, I believe I can help you." She flew into the fox's cave, lit on the goat's smoothly shorn head, and stung her so violently, that she sprang up, crying "meh, meh," and ran forth into the world as if mad, and to this hour no one knows where she has gone.

[你学徒回来带了点啥？」「我带回来的最好的东西就数这张小餐桌了。」裁缝把餐桌四面打量了一下，说：「你做得不怎么样呢。这是张又旧又破的桌子。」儿子回答说：「但是这张桌子会自动摆出酒菜来呢。只要我摆好桌子，对它说：'小餐桌，快撑开！'小桌上就会摆满美味佳餚和令人胃口大开的美酒。把我们的亲戚朋友都请来，让他们也尽情享受一下吧，桌上的东西可以让大家都吃个够。」　　大家都应邀而来，他将桌子摆在房子中央，说：「小餐桌，快撑开！」可小桌毫无反应，桌上仍是空空如也，和其他桌子一样。这位可怜的小伙子这才发现桌子被人调包了。他万分羞愧，觉得自己好像是个骗子。亲戚们也嘲笑他，然后既没吃也没喝就回去了。父亲又重操旧业维持生计，小伙子也到一个师傅那儿干活去了。　　再说二儿子来到一个磨坊师傅那里当学徒。期满时，师傅说：「因为你表现很好，我送你一头驴。它既不拉车也不驮东西。」「那它会干甚么呢？」小伙子问。「它会吐金子。只要你将它牵到一块布上对它说：'布里科布里特'，它前面吐的后面拉的全是金币。」「这真是个宝贝。」於是他谢过师傅，就去周游世界了。每当需要钱用时，他就对驴子说「布里科布里特」，金币就像下雨一般落下来，他只需要从地上捡起来就是了。不管走到哪儿，他总是要最好的、最贵的东西，因为他的钱包总是鼓鼓的。这样过了一段日子后，他想：我该回去看看父亲了，我带上这金驴子回去，他一定不会再生气，而且会好好款待我的。　　他刚巧来到他兄弟曾住过的那家旅店，就是偷换了小餐桌的那家。当店主要接过他手中的砩┥谑保艚糇プ№绳说：「不用了，我自己牵它去牲口棚吧。我知道它必须拴在甚么地方。」　　店主人感到很奇怪，认为一个要亲自照料牲口的人准没甚么钱。可是当陌生人从口袋里掏出两块金币，让他去给他买些好吃的东西时，店主惊愕得瞪大了眼睛，然后跑出去为他买了最好的食品。吃过之后，客人问还欠多少钱，店主想要双倍的价钱，就说还得多付几个金币。小伙子伸手到口袋里去掏，可钱刚好用完了。　　「店主先生，请您稍等片刻，我去取钱来。」说完就拿起一块台布走了。　　店主不知道这是甚么意思，很好奇地悄悄跟在后面想看个究竟。因为客人把牲口棚的门闩上了，他只好从墙上的一个小孔往里看。只见陌生人将桌布铺在地上，让驴子站在上面，喊了声「布里科布里特」，驴子立刻前吐后拉，金币像雨点般落下。　　「天哪！金币转眼就铸好了，这样的钱包可真不赖呢！」　　客人付完房钱躺下睡了。夜里，店主偷偷溜进牲口棚，牵走了「钱大王」，而在原来的地方拴了一匹普通驴子。第二天一大早，小伙子牵着驴子走了，以为自己牵的是金驴。中午时分，他来到了父亲身边，父亲见到他十分快乐，很愿意让他回家。　　老人问：「孩子，你现在做哪一行？」儿子回答说：「亲爱的爸爸，我是磨坊师傅了。」「你旅行回来带了甚么回家？」「带了一头驴子。」父亲说：「这里多的是毛驴，我情愿要头温驯的羊。」儿子说：「可我带回来的不是普通驴子，而是一头金驴。只要我对它说：'布里科布里特'，这头听话的牲口就会吐出满满一包金子。你把亲戚们都找来，我让他们都成为富翁。」裁缝说：「我很乐意。这样我就不用再操针线劳顿了。」他自己跑去将亲戚都找了来，等大家到齐后，磨坊师傅让他们坐下，在地上铺了一块布，把驴子牵了进来。「现在请注意！」说着他对驴子喊了声「布里科布里特」。然而驴子没吐也没拉出任何金币，说明这牲口对此一窍不通，因为并非所有驴子都能吐出金币的。这位可怜的磨坊师傅拉长了脸，知道被骗了，於是请求亲友们原谅。他们散去时和来的时候一样穷。　　且说老三在一个旋工那儿当学徒，因为这门手艺技术性强，他学的时间也最长。他的两个哥哥在一封信中将他们的不幸遭遇告诉了他，说他们在回家前最后一夜住的那家旅店的店主如何偷换了他们的宝物。出师时，因为他学得好，师傅送给他一个口袋，对他说：「口袋里有根棍。」「口袋或许有用，我可以带上，可棍子除了增加我的负担还有甚么用？」师傅回答说：「我这就告诉你，如果有人欺负了你，只要说声'棍子，出袋！'它就会自动跳出来，在欺负你的人背上乱敲乱打，让他们一个星期都动弹不得。直到你说'棍子，回袋！'它才会打住。」　　徒弟谢过师傅，背上口袋。如果有人逼近了想欺负他，他就说：「棍子，出袋！」棍子立刻就会跳出来，在那人身上痛打一阵，直打得他们的外套掉下来。动作那么快，往往不等对方反应过来就已经敲打上了，一直要等到主人喊：「棍子，回袋！」才罢休。　　那天傍晚，他来到两个哥哥受过骗的那家旅馆。他将背包放在面前的桌子上，开始讲述世人千奇百怪的经历。他说：「人们不难找到一张会摆酒菜的小餐桌，一头会吐金币的驴子，我也并不是看不起这些极好的宝物，可它们和我包里这宝贝比起来就差远了。这东西我是走到哪儿背到哪儿。」
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