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The Dwarf Nosey
by
The dwarf went back to his own room, and complained to the goose of his fate, for as he had never heard of this plant, he must die. “Is that all that is wanted?” said she. “I can help you in that case, for I learned to know all vegetables from my father. At any other time you might have been doomed; but fortunately now there is a full moon, and at this time the plant blooms. But tell me, are there any old chestnut trees in the vicinity of the palace?”
“Oh, yes,” replied the dwarf, with a lighter heart; “by the lake, two hundred steps from the house, there is a large group of them; but what has that to do with it?”
“Well, at the foot of old chestnuts blooms this plant,” replied Mimi. “Therefore, let us lose no time in our search. Take me under your arm, and set me down when we are in the garden, and I will assist you.”
He did as she said, and went with her to the palace entrance. But there he was stopped by the guard who extended his weapon, and said: “My good Nosey, it’s all up with you; I have received the strictest orders not to let you out of the house.”
“But there can’t be any objection to my going into the garden,” urged the dwarf. “Be so kind as to send one of your comrades to the steward, and ask him whether I may not be allowed to look for vegetables in the garden.” The guard did as requested, and the dwarf received permission to go into the garden, as it was surrounded by high walls and escape was impossible. When Nosey was safely outside, he put the goose down carefully, and she ran on before him to the lake where the chestnut trees stood. He followed her closely, with beating heart, as his last hope was centered on the success of their search, and if they did not find the plant, he was fully resolved that he would throw himself into the lake, rather than submit to being beheaded. The goose wandered about under all the trees, turning aside every blade of grass with her bill, but all in vain was her search, and she began to cry from pity and anxiety, as the night was at hand, and it was difficult to distinguish objects around her.
Just then the dwarf chanced to look across the lake and he shouted: “Look, look! Across the lake stands an old chestnut tree; let us go over there and search–perhaps we shall find my luck blooming there.” The goose took the lead, hopping and flying, and Nosey ran after as fast as his little legs would carry him. The chestnut tree cast a large shadow, so that nothing could be seen under its branches; but the goose suddenly stopped, clapped her wings with joy, put her head down into the long grass, and plucked something that she presented with her bill to the astonished dwarf, saying: “That is the plant, and there are a lot of them growing there, so that you will never lack for them.”
The dwarf examined the plant thoughtfully; it had a sweet odor, that reminded him involuntarily of the scene of his transformation. The stems and leaves were of a bluish-green color, and it bore a brilliant red flower with a yellowish border.
“God be praised!” exclaimed he at length. “How wonderful! Do you know that I believe this is the very plant that changed me from a squirrel to this hateful form? shall I make an experiment with it?”
“Not yet,” replied the goose. “Take a handful of these plants with you and let us go to your room; collect what money and other property you have, and then we will try the virtue of this plant.”
Taking some of the plants with them, they went back to his room, the heart of the dwarf beating so that it might almost be heard. After packing up his savings, some fifty or sixty ducats, and his shoes and clothes in a bundle, he said: “God willing, I will now free myself of this shape,” stuck his nose deep down into the plant and inhaled its fragrance.