The Strange Tale of the Snake Ring

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Long ago, in Germany, not far from the place where the River Neckar flows into the Rhine, there lived a very pretty girl named Gerda. Her parents had died when she was very small, and she had been brought up by a kind farmer, Wilhelm, and his wife Gertrud. They had looked after her with the same loving care as they bestowed on their only son, Robert.

When the story begins, Gerda was sixteen years old; she had blonde hair which she wore in two long plaits, and eyes as blue as the summer skies. As well as being beautiful, she was very happy and good-hearted, and sang as she went about her work of helping on the farm.

Now it so happened that as the farmer grew older, he was not able to work so hard or so fast on the farm, and he had recently employed a young man called Thomas, who lived in the nearby village, to help him. Thomas and Gerda often used to work together in the fields, and when they were sent to mow the hayfield by the river, Thomas would make sure that Gerda's scythe was well sharpened. He would do as many little kindnesses as he could, to make her work easier; and in return, Gerda would see that Gertrud packed him up a good helping of bread and sausage for his lunch, and that his flagon of ale was always full.

So it is not surprising that it was not long before the two young people fell in love with one another, and agreed, when they were both a little older, that they would be married.

If they had been happy young people before, they were now even happier. As she worked, Gerda made up a little song about herself and Thomas, and sang it aloud:

When Thomas heard the song, he began to sing it too; but of course, he put Gerda's name in it instead of his own.

“But if we are planning to be married,” said Gerda one day, “you must ask Wilhelm for his permission. It is usual for the young man to ask the girl's father. Mine, as you know, died long ago, but Wilhelm has been like a father to me, and I should be happy if you would ask him.”

So that day, when they had finished their work on the farm, they went into the big warm farmhouse kitchen and both Wilhelm and Gertrud were there. Thomas explained quietly why he wished to see them, and the farmer and his wife listened intently. When he had finished, Wilhelm spoke: “Thomas, you are a very lucky young man. If you truly love one another, as you say, I would not stand between you. For many years, I had hoped that one day Gerda would marry Robert, and that you both would inherit the farm when Gertrud and I have gone; but our only wish is for your happiness.”

“Robert has always been like a brother to me,” said Gerda, “and I love him as a brother; but I could never marry him.”

“Very well,” said Gertrud, “we accept that is so, and look forward to your marriage to Thomas with great happiness. But there is another matter we must consider. We have only one farm, and that we must pass on to Robert. Although we have worked hard all our lives, we have saved little money, and have no jewellery or valuables, so you will have no dowry. And when you are married, you will have to find yourselves a house and home, as it would be unwise for two married couples to share the farmhouse.”

“What shall we do, then?” asked Thomas. “I know you pay me what wages you can afford, but they are not sufficient to save money. If we have to wait until we can afford a house of our own, we shall put off our marriage for ever!”

“There is only one thing to do,” replied Wilhelm. “Gerda must stay here and work on the farm a little longer while you, Thomas, go away and seek your fortune. Then, when you have enough money, come back, buy a house in the village, and marry Gerda.”

Thomas said nothing. He saw his marriage and his happiness disappearing, and was sad at the very thought of being separated from Gerda; but still he listened carefully to the rest of what Wilhelm was saying:

“I expect you've read about young men going out and seeking their fortune. Lots of them come back empty-handed. That's because they haven't any idea how to go about it. But I'm going to tell you exactly what to do. Now, tell me Thomas, who are the richest people in Germany?”

“Why, kings and queens and princes and such, I suppose,” replied Thomas.

“You are quite right,” said Wilhelm, “and also dukes and counts and barons and many more. And I have heard it said, that there are more kings and queens and noblemen in Germany than in any other country in the world.”

“Yes, I know that such people have great wealth,” said Thomas, “but how will that help me? I have often noticed that the richest people are sometimes the meanest.”

“This is what you have to do,” said Wilhelm. “First, you find a rich nobleman – the more important the better – and become one of his servants. At first, you must not mind how humble your tasks may be but you are a hard and cheerful worker, and soon your talents will be recognised. As you rise in the nobleman's service, you will receive higher wages; and if in the end your work becomes important to your employer, you will be able to ask any price you wish. In service, your employer provides you with food and lodging free – and so you will be able to save up nearly all your wages to come home and marry Gerda.”

Before Thomas went back to his lodgings in the village that night, he and Gerda sat together on the farm gate discussing the plan that Wilhelm had suggested. Although it meant parting for a time, they both decided that it was the only answer to their problem, and neither of them could think of a better idea.

“After the haymaking is over,” said Thomas, “I shall set out to find a rich nobleman who will give me work.”

Now, after this, but before he set off on his travels, Thomas had an idea. He only had one really valuable thing in the world, a gold ring, which had belonged to his grandmother. He had promised his mother that he would never sell it, but would keep it in the family forever. This ring was like no other ring that Thomas had ever seen. It was made of the purest gold in the form of two snakes that intertwined with one another. One had red eyes made from tiny rubies, and the other had green eyes made from emeralds.

“There are many stories about the ring in our family,” his mother had told him. “Some say that it can give warning of danger. Others say that if it is lost or stolen, it always returns to its rightful owner.”

Thomas did not believe these stories. He thought that they were just old wives' tales.

“I shall give the ring to Gerda to keep while I am away,” said Thomas to himself. “After all, when we are married she will be part of our family.”

One market day Wilhelm sent Thomas into the town to sell a load of hay. When he had delivered his load, after making sure that the old mare had food and water, he went in search of a goldsmith. The goldsmith's workshop was down a narrow alley by the church.

“Good day, young fellow,” said the goldsmith. “What do you wish to buy today? Or perhaps you're wanting to sell something? I give the best prices for miles around.”

“I am neither buying nor selling,” said Thomas, “but please look at this ring, and tell me whether you could engrave my sweetheart's name on it.”

The goldsmith took the ring and examined it carefully; then he took it to the window and examined it again through his eyeglass. “What a remarkable ring!” he said at last. “In all my days I have never seen one like it. You must be a very rich young man to possess a ring like this.” He paused for a moment as if in thought, then continued: “Yes, I could engrave your young lady's name; but there is little room, and it would take great skill. You are lucky that I have such skill, but it does not come cheaply. I should have to charge you a hundred crowns to do the engraving.”

“You are quite wrong about my being rich,” replied Thomas. “I am only a poor farm boy, and the ring is the only valuable thing that I possess. I could not possibly pay you a hundred crowns. Give me back my ring, and I will not trouble you any further.”

“Wait a moment,” said the goldsmith. “I have an idea. If you would allow me to take one of the jewels from the eyes of the snakes, I would accept that as payment.”

“I cannot agree to that,” answered Thomas. “I cannot give a ring with a jewel missing.”

“Well,” said the goldsmith, “there is just one more way, but if you do not agree to this, I cannot help you. Will you allow me to shorten and flatten each of the snakes' tails. Then I could engrave your name on one, and your sweetheart's name on the other. In doing this I would remove a small quantity of gold. The ring is of such high quality that it would pay me for my work.”

“I agree,” said Thomas. “Our names are Thomas and Gerda.”

“Leave me the ring,” said the goldsmith, “and come back in two hours.”

Later that day, as Thomas drove the mare back to the farm, he was contented with his day's work, and resolved not to delay any longer than necessary before setting out on his travels.

A few days later, the haymaking was finished, and the hay safely stacked in the barnyard. In the evening Thomas went in again to see Wilhelm and Gertrud.

“My good friends,” he said, “at daybreak tomorrow I must be on my way. Thank you for all that you have done for me, and for your valuable advice. I have no doubt that you will keep Gerda safe until I return, and as you have cared for her since she was a baby, it will be no hardship for you to do so for a little longer. I give you my word that I will return the very moment that I am able to marry her.”

“Goodbye, my boy,” said Wilhelm, and shook Thomas's hand warmly. Gertrud embraced him, and a tear trickled down her cheek.

There was even more sadness at parting with Gerda; but the brightness came back into her eyes when she saw the ring, which Thomas produced from his pocket.

“Take this ring,” said Thomas, “and keep it safe until I return. Look! Both our names are engraved on it; and every time you look at it, it will remind you that I promise to come back to marry you, and then we shall be together for always.”

So Gerda dried her tears, and they said their final farewells at the farm gate.

“I will keep the ring on my finger always,” said Gerda quietly, “and every evening I shall wait here at the gate for a while, and look up the road to see if you are coming home.”

And so Thomas returned to his lodgings in the village, where he packed his few belongings in his knapsack. After a frugal supper, he lay down on his bed to sleep. But he was both sad and excited at the same time, and this state of mind made it impossible for him to sleep. When the first glimmer of light entered his window, he was still wide awake, thinking of happy days with Gerda in the past, the pain of parting, and wondering what the future held for both of them. Now the first ray of sunshine was peeping in. Thomas dressed himself, and put on a strong pair of boots. He added a loaf and a large piece of cheese to the contents of his knapsack, filled his water bottle from the well, and stuck his knife into his belt. Finally, taking a stout staff in his hand, he closed the door behind him and set off down the dusty road, with scarcely a glance behind him.