1812
GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
THE NAIL
by Jacob Ludwig Grimm and Wilhelm Carl Grimm
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
THE NAIL
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A MERCHANT had done good business at the fair; he had sold his
wares, and lined his money-bags with gold and silver. Then he wanted
to travel homewards, and be in his own house before nightfall. So he
packed his trunk with the money on his horse, and rode away.
At noon he rested in a town, and when he wanted to go farther the
stable-boy brought out his horse and said, "A nail is wanting, sir, in
the shoe of its left hind foot." "Let it be wanting," answered the
merchant; "the shoe will certainly stay on for six miles I have
still to go. I am in a hurry."
In the afternoon, when he once more alighted and had his horse
fed, the stable-boy went into the room to him and said, "Sir, a shoe
is missing from your horse's left hind foot. Shall I take him to the
blacksmith?" "Let it still be wanting," answered the man; "the horse
can very well hold out for the couple of miles which remain. I am in
haste."
He rode forth, but before long the horse began to limp. It had not
limped long before it began to stumble, and it had not stumbled long
before it fell down and broke its leg. The merchant was forced to
leave the horse where it was, and unbuckle the trunk, take it on his
back, and go home on foot. And there he did not arrive until quite
late at night. "And that unlucky nail," said he to himself, "has
caused all this disaster."
Make haste slowly.
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THE END
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