Blockhead Hans

They studied hard to speak well to the princess, and their father gave them each a horse to ride to the King's hall.

A third son (of a lesser mind) called Blockhead-Hans wanted to win the princess as well, but his father would not give him a horse, so he rode a goat, instead.

On the way to the King's hall, Blockhead-Hans picked up gifts to give to the princess: a dead crow, an old wooden shoe without the top, and mud.

Both brothers stammered and failed by executed to impress the princess with their words.

He produced the shoe, calling it "a cooking implement with tin rings," and placed the dead crow in it.

1900 illustration by Hans Tegner