Hans dumm brothers grimm biography

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Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

There was a king who lived happily with his daughter, his only child. Quite suddenly the princess had a baby, but no one knew who the father was.

For some time the king was beside himself. Finally he ordered the princess to take the child to the church.

Hans dumm brothers grimm biography

A lemon would be placed in his hand, and whoever he should give it to would be the child's father and the princess's husband. This happened, but only fine people were admitted into the church. However, in the town there was a small, crooked, hunchbacked lad who was not very smart and who was therefore known as Hans Dumb.

He mingled with the others and slipped into the church without being seen. When the child reached out with the lemon, it was to Hans Dumb!

The princess was horrified, and the king was so taken aback that he had her, the child, and Hans Dumb placed into a cask and set adrift at sea.

The cask soon drifted away, and when they were alone at sea the princess cried out bitterly, "