In a little village, nestled beside a big, green forest, lived a farmer and his wife. They had a nice house and a good farm, but they were a little sad. Why? Because they wished and wished for a child, but they didn't have one.

One day, the farmer sighed, "Oh, I wish we had a child! I wouldn't even care if he was half a hedgehog!"

Well, be careful what you wish for! Soon, his wife had a baby boy. And guess what? The top half of him was a hedgehog, all prickly with quills, and the bottom half was a boy! They named him Hans My Hedgehog.

Hans couldn't sleep in a normal bed because of his quills. So, he made a cozy nest of straw behind the warm stove. His father wasn't always very kind to him, feeling a bit embarrassed. But Hans was a clever little fellow.

When he grew a bit older, Hans said, "Father, I need some bagpipes and a strong rooster I can ride. I'm going off to the forest." The farmer was surprised, but he got Hans the bagpipes and a very big, proud rooster.

So, Hans My Hedgehog rode his rooster, toot-toot-tooting on his bagpipes, into the deep forest. He found a good spot, built a little shelter, and started looking after some pigs and donkeys that had wandered off from nearby farms. He played his bagpipes so beautifully that all the forest animals loved to listen.

One day, a King got lost in the forest. He heard the sweet music of the bagpipes and followed the sound. There was Hans! "Can you help me find my way out?" asked the King.
"Yes," said Hans, "if you promise me the first thing that greets you when you get back to your castle."
The King thought, "My dog will greet me first. That's an easy promise!" So he agreed.
Hans showed him the way. But when the King arrived home, who ran out first? His daughter, the Princess! The King was very upset and told his daughter to shoo away anyone who came on a rooster playing bagpipes.

A little while later, another King got lost. He too heard Hans's music. Hans made the same deal: "Help for the promise of the first thing that greets you at your castle." This King also agreed. And when he got home, his beautiful and kind daughter was the first to greet him. This King was an honest man. He told his daughter about Hans and his promise. The Princess said, "Father, a promise is a promise. I will marry him."

After some time, Hans My Hedgehog decided it was time to claim his brides. He rode his rooster to the first King's castle, playing his bagpipes. The first Princess came out, but she was scared of his prickly quills. She didn't want to go with him. Hans knew she didn't truly want to be with him, so he rode on.

Then, Hans rode to the second King's castle. The second Princess came out. She was a little surprised, but she smiled kindly. "Welcome, Hans My Hedgehog," she said. "I will keep my father's promise."

They had a big wedding feast. That night, Hans asked for a big fire to be lit in the fireplace. Then, something amazing happened! Hans took off his hedgehog skin like a coat. Underneath, he was a handsome young man! He asked the King's men to throw the prickly skin into the fire, and it burned away.

The Princess was overjoyed. She had married a kind and now very handsome prince. Hans My Hedgehog, now a prince, even went to see his father. His father was so happy and proud to see him.

And so, Hans and his kind Princess lived happily ever after, and everyone learned that true beauty and kindness are found on the inside.

1248 Views