Hans in Luck

So, long ago—I don’t even remember when, and nobody remembers it now—once upon a time there lived a young man. His name was Hans. He lived with his parents at a sawmill at the edge of a vast, deep forest. As a boy, he was foretold that he would be a lucky one and would marry a princess.

One day a stranger appeared in their house, hired Hans to work for him, and immediately sent him to the city with a letter, even though night was coming and robbers, at that time, were out on the road. Hans wandered until he found a robber’s hut; a woman let him in and allowed him to spend the night.

When the robbers returned and discovered Hans, they decided to rob him, but found only the letter…