This German folktale story is collected from the German folktale story book, named- “Folk-lore and Legends: Germany”. This German folktale story book contains 30 German folktales, which was written by- Charles John Tibbitts. It was fast published by-W.W. Gibbings, London in 1892.
Gaffer Death
There was once a poor man who had twelve children, and he was obliged to hard work day and night that he might earn food for them. When at length, as it so happened, a thirteenth child came into the world. The poor man did not know how to help himself, so he ran out into the highway, determined to ask the first person he met to be godfather to the boy.
There came stalking up to him Death, who said, "Take me for a godfather."
"Who are you?" asked the father.
"I am Death, who makes all equal," replied the stranger.
Then said the man, "You are one of the right sorts: you seize on rich and poor without difference; you shall be the child's godfather."
The Death answered, "I will make the boy rich and renowned throughout the world, for he who has me for a friend can want nothing."
The man said to the stranger, "Next Sunday will he be baptized, mind and come at the right time."
The Death accordingly appeared as he had promised and stood godfather to the child.
When the boy grew up his godfather came to him one day and took him into a wood, and he said - "Now shall you have your godfather's present. I will make a most famous physician of you. Whenever you are called to a sick person, I will take care and show myself to you. If I stand at the foot of the bed, say boldly, 'I will soon restore you to health,' and give the patient a little herb that I will point out to you, and he will soon be well. If, however, I stand at the head of the sick person, he is mine; then say, 'All help is useless; he must soon die.'"
Then Death showed him the little herb and said, "Take attention that you never use it in opposition to my will."
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| Gaffer Death |
Gaffer Death
-A German Folktale Story
There was once a poor man who had twelve children, and he was obliged to hard work day and night that he might earn food for them. When at length, as it so happened, a thirteenth child came into the world. The poor man did not know how to help himself, so he ran out into the highway, determined to ask the first person he met to be godfather to the boy.
There came stalking up to him Death, who said, "Take me for a godfather."
"Who are you?" asked the father.
"I am Death, who makes all equal," replied the stranger.
Then said the man, "You are one of the right sorts: you seize on rich and poor without difference; you shall be the child's godfather."
The Death answered, "I will make the boy rich and renowned throughout the world, for he who has me for a friend can want nothing."
The man said to the stranger, "Next Sunday will he be baptized, mind and come at the right time."
The Death accordingly appeared as he had promised and stood godfather to the child.
When the boy grew up his godfather came to him one day and took him into a wood, and he said - "Now shall you have your godfather's present. I will make a most famous physician of you. Whenever you are called to a sick person, I will take care and show myself to you. If I stand at the foot of the bed, say boldly, 'I will soon restore you to health,' and give the patient a little herb that I will point out to you, and he will soon be well. If, however, I stand at the head of the sick person, he is mine; then say, 'All help is useless; he must soon die.'"
Then Death showed him the little herb and said, "Take attention that you never use it in opposition to my will."
