OLAF AND THE TROLL
(Jack and the Beanstalk from Norway)
Once there was a poor man
who had three sons.
When he died,
the two older brothers
decided to leave their home
and look for work.
“Can I come with you?”
“No!” his brothers told him.
“You’re fit for nothing.
You could never get a job.”
Then the two set off
and found work
After a while, Olaf set off, too,
taking his father’s boat,
which his brothers had left behind.
Olaf also arrived at the palace
and asked if they would hire him.
At first, they didn’t want Olaf,
but when he pleaded, they let him
carry the water for the maid.
Olaf was quick and friendly,
and everybody liked him.
His brothers noticed
and grew very jealous of him.
across another lake,
lived a troll
who had seven silver ducks.
Everybody knew
that the king wanted them.
The brothers told the cook,
“Our brother, Olaf,
said he could catch those ducks.”
It wasn’t long before
the king found out.
The king sent for Olaf.
“I’ve heard that you can get
the silver ducks,” he told him.
“Go now and fetch them!”
Olaf couldn’t argue with the king.
He asked for a bag of seeds
and said he’d try his best.
Olaf loaded the bag into his boat,
and rowed across the lake.
When he reached the other side,
he sprinkled the seeds on the shore.
As the ducks came near,
Olaf caught them
and put them in his boat.
Quickly, he began to row back.
When he was halfway there,
the troll came out and roared,
“Is that you who took my ducks?”
“Yes!” Olaf called back.
“Will you be back?”
“Very likely!” answered Olaf.
Olaf brought the ducks to the king,
and the king was very pleased.
“Well done!” he said.
After that, Olaf was liked
even more than before.
His brothers grew more envious.
Once again, they went to the cook
and said, “Our brother told us
he could get the golden harp
that is heard when the wind blows
across the lake.”
The cook told others,
and soon the king found out.
The king called Olaf and said,
“I hear that you can get
that golden harp. Bring it to me!”
Again Olaf rowed across the lake.
But this time the troll caught him
and took him to his cave.
Olaf saw the golden harp
leaning by the door.
The troll called to his daughter,
“Put this boy in a cage.
Tomorrow you will roast him,
while I invite some friends
The next day, after the troll left,
the daughter lit the fire
and took out a knife.
“Is that what you’re going to
cut me with?” asked Olaf.
“Yes, it is,” said the daughter.
“But it isn’t sharp,” said Olaf.
“Let me sharpen it for you.
You’ll find it easier to work with.”
The daughter opened the cage.
Olaf came out, pushed her inside,
and locked it.
Then he grabbed the golden harp
and ran to the shore with it.
He jumped into his boat.
Quickly, he rowed across the lake.
Just then, the troll came back
and saw Olaf on the water.
“Hey!” he roared. “Is that you
who took my silver ducks?”
“Yes!” called Olaf.
“And now you have taken my harp?”
“Yes!” replied Olaf.
“Didn’t my daughter roast you?”
the troll screeched.
“I guess not!” called Olaf.
When the troll heard that,
he was so angry, he burst!
and gave the king the harp.
The king made him his adviser.
Olaf forgave his two brothers,
and, grateful, their jealousy
changed to admiration.
