(Note: Some of the words in the story differ from modern spelling. The reason is that I have insisted on publishing the story as it originally appeared.)
Once upon a time, across seventeen countries, and even across the Peruvian Sea, where the piglet's tail roams, there lived a very old man with three sons.
When this very old man felt his death approaching, he called his three sons to him and addressed them in prayer:
- God is calling me to Himself, I am about to die, vow my dear sons that for better or for worse you will always stick together.
- "We'll never leave each other, father," said the three boys, "we've always stuck together through thick and thin.
The very old man died, and the three boys put the ash-baked scones in their bags and went out into the world. They wandered over great mountains and through shady valleys, their feet broken from all the walking, when they came to a beautiful blue-water river. The weather was very warm, so the three boys thought for a moment and bathed in the blue water of the river.
Yes, but while they were bathing, an evil sorcerer stole the youngest boy's heels, which were lying under a bush. So the youngest boy had to wander on barefoot, through thorns and bushes, the two eldest boys' feet protected by magnificent leather horns.
His feet were already bloody from wandering, when he said to his two brothers:
- My dear brothers, I can't go on wandering any longer, could you lend me some heels until the wounds on my feet heal.
- "No, we won't put our fine leather shoes on your bloody feet," said the two envious brothers, "and if you can't come with us, we'll leave you here.
The two older brothers left their youngest in the middle of a large, dense forest. For the two envious brothers had forgotten what they had promised their father on his deathbed. That for better or worse, they would never leave each other.
So the youngest boy was sitting in the middle of the dense forest, looking sad, when he saw a very old wolf coming towards him, tongue hanging out, panting and limping heavily.
- "Why are you howling so bitterly, father wolf, what's wrong with you?" asked the youngest boy boldly.
- 'You're lucky you called me father wolf,' said the very old wolf, 'or I'd have smashed you to bits with my teeth, you human thing. Hey, I am in great trouble, for I cannot step on my foreleg, for I have a thorn in it.
- "I'll help you, nothing could be easier," said the youngest boy, and with a single tug he pulled the thorn out of the old wolf's foot, and even dressed the wound neatly with a piece of his shirt.
- "Well, I see you have a good heart," said the wolf, "so I'll help you out of gratitude. See that big hollow tree over there? In the hollow of that tree you'll find a whole army of wolves. There are red swans' horns, silver horns, and even golden horns. But you don't care about all that, if you want a good one, choose the most worn one.
With that, the wolf was gone.
The smallest boy found the wonderful heels in the tree hole, but remembering the old wolf's advice, he pulled the most worn one to his feet. Then he trudged on and reached the shores of the Peruvian Sea.
- "If only I could fly over here now," he thought sadly. No sooner had he thought of it than, lo and behold, he was miraculously airborne and hadn't stopped until he reached the far shore of the Peruvian Sea. For, not to mince my words, these worn-out heels had a magical power, and whoever pulled them to his feet had his every wish granted.
So the youngest boy arrived in the land of the Glass King, where everyone was in great mourning. The king was sad, and so were his most wise advisers. There was no other reason for this great sadness than the fact that the beautiful golden ball of the King's lady had caught on the button of the highest tower while playing ball.
For seven days and seven nights the tears of the beautiful maiden fell, and the king promised his daughter's hand and half his kingdom to the one who would fetch the golden ball from the button of the tower.
Brave men and men of valour came from seven countries to try to climb the high tower. Alas, they came to a sad end. Those who reached the top of the tower and peered down into the abyss were soon dizzy and turned up dead. He who turned back halfway, for his courage was in shreds, was drawn to the stake by the king.
The youngest boy thought big and stood before the king.
- My lord, my king, I will fetch the ball.
The king just shook his head and the people of the court mocked the tattered heels of the youngest son.
But the boy just stopped under the tower and said:
- My dear sisters, chop-chop, take me to the top of the tower!
Well, in the blink of an eye, he was on top of the world's tallest tower. He took down the golden ball and didn't even feel dizzy.
Hey, suddenly the face of the sad princess became laughing, and the king said:
- My daughter's hand and my half of the country are now yours!
That very day, they had a glorious feast and lived happily ever after.
