Brick Fairy Tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and More (60 page)

“I am Death, and I make all equal.”

Then said the man, “Thou art the right one, thou takest the rich as well as the poor, without distinction;

thou shalt be godfather.”

Death answered, “I will make thy child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing.”

The man said, “Next Sunday is the christening; be there at the right time.”

Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way.

When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him.

He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there,

and said, “Now shalt thou receive thy godfather’s present. I make thee a celebrated physician.

When thou art called to a patient, I will always appear to thee. If I stand by the head of the sick man, thou mayst say with confidence that thou wilt make him well again,

and if thou givest him of this herb

he will recover;

but if I stand by the patient’s feet,

he is mine, and thou must say that all remedies are in vain,