The Tinderbox

A soldier walked down the road: one-two! one-two!—his pack on his back, his saber at his side. He had taken what he was owed, and now he was making his way home. And then—out of nowhere—an old witch came toward him, plain ugly ugly: her lower lip hung almost down to her chest.

“Good evening, soldier!” she said. “Look at your saber—what a fine one you have, and your pack—what a big one! In short, well done, soldier! Now you’ll have as much money as you want.

“Thank you, old hag!” the soldier replied.

“See that old tree over there?” the witch continued and pointed to the tree standing beside the road…