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As he walked on； he met a very frightful…looking old witch inthe road。 Her under…lip hung quite down on her breast； and she stoppedand said； 〃Good evening； soldier； you have a very fine sword； and alarge knapsack； and you are a real soldier； so you shall have asmuch money as ever you like。〃
〃Thank you； old witch；〃 said the soldier。
〃Do you see that large tree；〃 said the witch； pointing to a treewhich stood beside them。 〃Well； it is quite hollow inside； and youmust climb to the top； when you will see a hole； through which you canlet yourself down into the tree to a great depth。 I will tie a roperound your body； so that I can pull you up again when you call outto me。〃
〃But what am I to do； down there in the tree？〃 asked the soldier。
〃Get money；〃 she replied； 〃for you must know that when you reachthe ground under the tree； you will find yourself in a large hall；lighted up by three hundred lamps； you will then see three doors；which can be easily opened； for the keys are in all the locks。 Onentering the first of the chambers； to which these doors lead； youwill see a large chest； standing in the middle of the floor； andupon it a dog seated； with a pair of eyes as large as teacups。 But youneed not be at all afraid of him； I will give you my blue checkedapron； which you must spread upon the floor； and then boldly seizehold of the dog； and place him upon it。 You can then open the chest；and take from it as many pence as you please； they are only copperpence； but if you would rather have silver money； you must go into thesecond chamber。 Here you will find another dog； with eyes as big asmill…wheels； but do not let that trouble you。 Place him upon my apron；and then take what money you please。 If； however； you like goldbest； enter the third chamber； where there is another chest full ofit。 The dog who sits on this chest is very dreadful； his eyes are asbig as a tower； but do not mind him。 If he also is placed upon myapron； he cannot hurt you； and you may take from the chest what goldyou will。〃
〃This is not a bad story；〃 said the soldier； 〃but what am I togive you； you old witch？ for； of course； you do not mean to tell meall this for nothing。〃
〃No；〃 said the witch； 〃but I do not ask for a single penny。 Onlypromise to bring me an old tinder…box； which my grandmother leftbehind the last time she went down there。〃
〃Very well； I promise。 Now tie the rope round my body。〃
〃Here it is；〃 replied the witch； 〃and here is my blue checkedapron。〃
As soon as the rope was tied； the soldier climbed up the tree； andlet himself down through the hollow to the ground beneath； and here hefound； as the witch had told him； a large hall； in which manyhundred lamps were all burning。 Then he opened the first door。 〃Ah！〃there sat the dog； with the eyes as large as teacups； staring at him。
〃You're a pretty fellow；〃 said the soldier； seizing him； andplacing him on the witch's apron； while he filled his pockets from thechest with as many pieces as they would hold。 Then he closed thelid； seated the dog upon it again； and walked into another chamber；And； sure enough； there sat the dog with eyes as big as mill…wheels。
〃You had better not look at me in that way；〃 said the soldier；〃you will make your eyes water；〃 and then he seated him also uponthe apron； and opened the chest。 But when he saw what a quantity ofsilver money it contained； he very quickly threw away all thecoppers he had taken； and filled his pockets and his knapsack withnothing but silver。
Then he went into the third room； and there the dog was reallyhideous； his eyes were； truly； as big as towers； and they turned roundand round in his head like wheels。
〃Good morning；〃 said the soldier； touching his cap； for he hadnever seen such a dog in his life。 But after looking at him moreclosely； he thought he had been civil enough； so he placed him onthe floor； and opened the chest。 Good gracious； what a quantity ofgold there was！ enough to buy all the sugar…sticks of thesweet…stuff women； all the tin soldiers； whips； and rocking…horsesin the world； or even the whole town itself There was； indeed； animmense quantity。 So the soldier now threw away all the silver moneyhe had taken； and filled his pockets and his knapsack with goldinstead； and not only his pockets and his knapsack； but even his capand boots； so that he could scarcely walk。
He was really rich now； so he replaced the dog on the chest；closed the door； and called up through the tree； 〃Now pull me out； youold witch。〃
〃Have you got the tinder…box？〃 asked the witch。
〃No； I declare I quite forgot it。〃 So he went back and fetched thetinderbox； and then the witch drew him up out of the tree； and hestood again in the high road； with his pockets； his knapsack； his cap；and his boots full of gold。
〃What are you going to do with the tinder…box？〃 asked the soldier。
〃That is nothing to you；〃 replied the witch； 〃you have themoney； now give me the tinder…box。〃
〃I tell you what；〃 said the soldier； 〃if you don't tell me whatyou are going to do with it； I will draw my sword and cut off yourhead。〃
〃No；〃 said the witch。
The soldier immediately cut off her head； and there she lay on theground。 Then he tied up all his money in her apron。 and slung it onhis back like a bundle； put the tinderbox in his pocket； and walkedoff to the nearest town。 It was a very nice town； and he put up at thebest inn； and ordered a dinner of all his favorite dishes； for nowhe was rich and had plenty of money。
The servant； who cleaned his boots； thought they certainly werea shabby pair to be worn by such a rich gentleman； for he had notyet bought any new ones。 The next day； however； he procured somegood clothes and proper boots； so that our soldier soon became knownas a fine gentleman； and the people visited him； and told him allthe wonders that were to be seen in the town； and of the king'sbeautiful daughter； the princess。
〃Where can I see her？〃 asked the soldier。
〃She is not to be seen at all；〃 they said； 〃she lives in a largecopper castle； surrounded by walls and towers。 No one but the kinghimself can pass in or out； for there has been a prophecy that shewill marry a mon soldier； and the king cannot bear to think of sucha marriage。〃
〃I should like very much to see her；〃 thought the soldier； buthe could not obtain permission to do so。 However； he passed a verypleasant time； went to the theatre； drove in the king's garden； andgave a great deal of money to the poor； which was very good of him； heremembered what it had been in olden times to be without a shilling。Now he was rich； had fine clothes； and many friends； who alldeclared he was a fine fellow and a real gentleman； and all thisgratified him exceedingly。 But his money would not last forever； andas he spent and gave away a great deal daily； and received none； hefound himself at last with only two shillings left。 So he wasobliged to leave his elegant rooms； and live in a little garretunder the roof； where he had to clean his own boots； and even mendthem with a large needle。 None of his friends came to see him； therewere too many stairs to mount up。 One dark evening； he had not evena penny to buy a candle； then all at once he remembered that there wasa piece of candle stuck in the tinder…box； which he had brought fromthe old tree； into which the witch had helped him。
He found the tinder…box； but no sooner had he struck a fewsparks from the flint and steel； than the door flew open and the dogwith eyes as big as teacups； whom he had seen while down in thetree； stood before him； and said； 〃What orders； master？〃
〃Hallo；〃 said the soldier； 〃well this is a pleasant tinderbox；if it brings me all I wish for。〃
〃Bring me some money；〃 said he to the dog。
He was gone in a moment； and presently returned； carrying alarge bag of coppers in his month。 The soldier very soon discoveredafter this the value of the tinder…box。 If he struck the flint once；the dog who sat on the chest of copper money made his appearance； iftwice； the dog came from the chest of silver； and if three times；the dog with eyes like towers； who watched over the gold。 Thesoldier had now plenty of money； he returned to his elegant rooms； andreappeared in his fine clothes； so that his friends knew him againdirectly； and m