Urssenbeck from Austria, and The Boy With the Keg of Ale from Norway. It can also be found in variant forms in a number of other countries as well - such as The Shepherd and the Three Diseases from Greece, The Just Man from Italy, The Soul-Taking Angel from Armenia, The Contract with Azrael from Egypt, Dr. This story, titled Godfather Death, comes from the German folk tales of the Brothers Grimm. Please, Godfather Death, won't you light a new candle for me?" Death gazed at him remorselessly. "Please," his godson begged, "for many years I was your faithful servant. This one is yours." Death pointed to a candle that had burned down to a pool of wax. ![]() Each time a candle grows low and snuffs out, a life is ended. "Here," he said, "are candles burning for every life upon the earth. "You'll go with me instead." He took the young man into a cave, its wall niches covered with millions of candles. The princess was healed immediately, but Death reached out a cold, white hand and clamped it on his godson's arm, saying. He ordered the princess's bed to be turned and he gave her the herbal tincture. "Don't cross me again," his godfather warned, but the doctor was half in love already. He stood at the foot of the princess's bed, ready to take her away. "Save her life," said the king, "I shall give you her hand in marriage." The doctor went to the lovely maiden's bedchamber, where Death was waiting. The young man took this warning to heart and did not cross his godfather again - until the king's daughter fell ill and he was summoned back to the palace. If you do, it will be the worse for you." He shook his long, bony finger at his godson and said, "You must never cheat me again. He quickly instructed the court attendants to turn the bed the opposite way, and he then restored the king to health with a tincture of the magical herb. Now this king was much beloved and the young man wanted to cure him very much. But when the young doctor arrived at last in the richly appointed bedchamber, he saw that the king was gravely ill and that Death stood at his feet. The king lay sick in his golden bed and he summoned the tailor's son to him. The young man became the most famous doctor of his time, and his fame spread far and wide until it reached the ears of the king. ![]() Your diagnosis will always be right, and you will be famous around the world."Īnd so it was. But if you see me at the foot, you'll know it is their time to die. ![]() If you see me at its head then give them a tincture of the herb and your patient will be well. Look for me when you're called to a patient's bed. Take this magical herb, the cure for any malady of this earth. "It is time to establish you in the world. When the boy finally came of age, his Godfather Death appeared before him. The boy and his family lacked for nothing. "Your child shall lack for nothing," he said, "for I am a powerful friend indeed." The years went by and he kept his word. Now Death had never been asked such a thing before, but he agreed at once. "Death treats all men alike, whether rich or poor. I'll wait for another." The third man to pass was Death, and the poor tailor considered him carefully. "He lies and cheats and leads good men astray. I'll wait for another to come." The second to pass was the Devil, but the poor tailor rejected him too. "God gives to the rich and takes from the poor. ![]() The first person to pass was God, but the poor tailor rejected him. He knew of no other way that he could provide for his newborn son. When the thirteenth was born, the distraught man ran out to the road nearby determined to find someone to stand as godfather to the child. Once upon a time there was a poor tailor who could barely feed his twelve children.
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