The Tree of Health
There was once a man who had three sons. When he lay dying, he called them to him and told them that he had nothing to
leave them save an orchard which they were to divide among themselves. One of the trees of the orchard bore the apples of
health; but which tree it was, and where it stood, he would not say.
So the man died, and his sons at once set about dividing their heritage. The tow older brothers would not allow the youngest
son to be present when they divided the orchard and they allotted him only one tree which stood in the centre of the orchard.
With that tree they did not give the land it grew on, for they figured that if by ill luck their brother’s tree should be the one to
bear the apples of health, they could still gather the apples which fell from it onto the ground.
One day they all heard that the princess of their country was very ill. They king was promising her and half his kingdom to
anyone who could restore her to health.
The brothers decided to try their luck. The oldest was the first to run to the orchard. He picked one apple from each of his
trees, laid them in a basket, and hastened to the castle.
The way led through a great forest, and as the brother entered it, he met an old woman. “Good day,” she said, “and what
might you have in your basket?”
“Frogs and toads,” said the young fellow, “if it’s any business of yours!”
“Frogs and toads it is, and shall be,” said the old woman and on her way she went.
The brother went on his way too, and soon came to a sentry box outside the castle.
“What do you wish, my son?” the sentry asked.
“I have apples of health in my basket and I want to cure the princess.”
“All well and good,” said the sentry, “but first I must look into the basket.”
When they lifted the cover, they found not rosy apples but a swarming mass of frogs and toads. There was nothing for it but
that the brother must return home, after a sound beating from the guard.
In the meantime the second brother had run to his half of the orchard and picked a basketful of apples from his trees. When he
came to the forest he met the same old woman, who bade him good-day and asked what he had in his basket.
“Snakes and worms,” he answered, as gruffly as his brother had spoken.
The old woman again gave a curt answer, “Snakes and worms it is, and shall be.”
The brother soon came to the castle guard.
“What do you wish, my son”” the sentry asked.
“I have apples of health in my basket and I want to cure the princess.”
“All well and good,” said the sentry, “but first, I must look into the basket.”
This time when the cover was lifted, a heap of crawling snakes and worms was to be seen.
This brother also received a sound beating form the guard.
At last the youngest brother determined to try his luck. He picked some beautiful apples from his one tree and set off for the
castle. In the forest he too met the old woman.
“Good-day,” said she, “and what might you have in your basket?”
“Good-day to you,” said the young man, pleasantly. “I have apples of health in my basket.”
“Apples of health it is, and shall be,” said the old woman, and went on her way.
The youngest brother went on through the forest and walked a short way along the seashore. There suddenly he saw an extra-
big wave cast up an enormous pike which lay on the beach gasping for breath.
“You poor fish,” said the youngest brother. “I must help you.” By hard work he managed to lift the slippery fish and throw
him far out into the water. He was surprised then to see the pike rise up and cry, “I thank you, my boy. And if ever you are in
trouble and I can help you, call me and I will come at once.”
The young fellow went on his way wondering. Soon he was stopped by the sight of a fight between a raven and a swarm of
bees. Such an angry time were the bird and the bees having that the youngest son went up to them and told them they were
foolish to quarrel. He suggested that instead of battering each other, they should simply fly away in whichever direction each
wished.
This seemed to make good sense to the fighter, so they parted company with each other and both sides called out, “We thank
you for your good advice. If ever you are in trouble and we can help you, call and we will come.”
The young fellow went on until he came to the sentry outside the castle.
“What do you wish, my son?” asked the sentry.
“I have in my basket apples of health. I would like to cure the princess.”
Yes. That was all very fine but first the sentry must peep into the basket to be sure apples were there. He had been shown the
strangest things!
This time the basket was seen to contain the most beautiful apples. When the boy offered one to the sentry, it made the man
feel so bright and gay that at once he sent him on to the king. The king took him to the princess.
The boy gave the princess some apples. When she had eaten the first one, she was able to raise her head from the pillow.
When she had eaten the second one, she could sit up in bed. And when she had eaten the third apple, she jumped up and
danced about the room.
The king was filled with joy. He kept his promise and announced that the princess must marry the young man. That, however,
did not suit the princess. Such a very young man would be but a trifling husband. She demanded that nay man who wished to
marry her should have made a name for himself. If she was to accept this young man, he must first bring her the ring that the
king had lost in the sea twenty-four years ago.
When the king repeated this to the boy, it sobered him for a moment – but then he remembered the pike. He rushed down to
the seashore and told the pike his trouble. With so much magic in the air, it was no more than to be expected that the pike
should dive beneath the waves and straightway come up with the ring.
It was a great surprise to the king that he should receive the ring from the happy young man. He told his daughter that there
must now be no more talk. She was to marry the boy at once.
But the princess still objected. She would have a husband who could support her properly. He must provide her with a castle
as splendid as the one in which she now lived. Furthermore, it must be made of wax and shine like gold.
When the king reported this, the lad was indeed troubled, but only until he remembered the bees. He ran to tell them his
problem and was assured by them that they would answer his need.
Next morning when the court awoke, there stood a castle. It was mad of wax and was large and splendid as the royal castle
itself. Moreover, it shone like clear gold!
Now the king made clear to the princess that she could delay no longer. She must accept the lad. “You can see that he can
perform far greater deeds than ordinary folk.”
The princess was surprised by the golden castle; that was clear. But still she refused to be satisfied. She insisted that the boy
bring her the three oldest coals from the underworld. Only then would she marry him!
With this odd request, the king was more angry than ever; but as always, he gave in to his demanding daughter.
This time the lad was not sad long, for he knew he could call to the raven. And no sooner had he told the bird what he needed
than it returned with three ancient coals. Although the princess nearly choked by their fire and smoke, at last she gave in. She
was now fully impressed by the lad and would become his wife.
So the two were married and the young man received half the kingdom as her dowry.
from Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Denmark retold by Virginia Haviland