Brick Fairy Tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and More (59 page)

and said to him, “Poor man, I pity thee. I will hold thy child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth.”

The man said, “Who art thou?”

“I am God.”

“Then I do not desire to have thee for a godfather,” said the man;

“thou givest to the rich, and leavest the poor to hunger.”

Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther.

Then the Devil came to him and said, “What seekest thou?

If thou wilt take me as a godfather for thy child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well.”

The man asked, “Who art thou?” “I am the Devil.”

“Then I do not desire to have thee for godfather,” said the man; “thou deceivest men and leadest them astray.”

He went onwards,

and then came Death striding up to him with withered legs,

and said, “Take me as godfather.”

The man asked, “Who art thou?”