Hans had worked for his master for seven years. "Master," he said, "I want to go home to see my mother. Please give me my wages." The master gave Hans a piece of silver as big as his head. Hans put it in a cloth and started walking.
Soon, he saw a man riding a horse. "Riding looks so easy!" Hans said. The rider heard him and offered to trade the horse for the silver. Hans was happy and agreed. But while he was riding, the horse suddenly jumped, and Hans fell off.
A shepherd passing by with a cow helped him up. Hans decided he didn’t like horses anymore. "A cow is better," Hans thought. "I can have milk, butter, and cheese every day." He traded the horse for the cow. But when Hans tried to milk the cow, he got nothing because the cow was too old. The cow even kicked him in the head!
Next, a butcher came by with a pig. Hans traded his old cow for the pig. "Now I will have sausages!" he said. But then he met a man with a fine white goose. The man told Hans that the pig was probably stolen and the police were looking for it. Hans got scared and traded the pig for the goose.
In the next village, Hans met a knife-grinder. The man told Hans that his job was great because he always had money in his pocket. "You just need a grindstone," the man said. Hans traded his goose for a heavy, ordinary stone.
Hans was tired and thirsty. He stopped at a river to drink. As he leaned down, the heavy stone fell into the water and sank. Hans jumped for joy! He was finally free of his heavy load. "I am the luckiest man in the world!" he cried. With a light heart, he walked the rest of the way to his mother’s house.