Donkey Cabbages

In the deep forests where few travelers dared to venture, there lived a young huntsman who possessed both skill with his bow and a heart filled with kindness. His name was Wilhelm, and though he was poor in worldly goods, he was rich in courage and honesty. This is the tale of how magical cabbages led him on an adventure that would test his character and reward his virtue.

The Encounter with the Witch

One morning, as Wilhelm was tracking deer through a particularly dense part of the forest, he came upon a clearing where an ancient woman was gathering herbs. She was bent with age, her clothing was tattered, and she looked as though she had not eaten a proper meal in many days.

“Good grandmother,” Wilhelm called out respectfully, “you seem to be in need of assistance. I have little to offer, but please accept this bread and meat from my pack. The forest can be dangerous for one traveling alone.”

The old woman looked up at him with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of ages. “You are kind, young huntsman. Most people who see me flee in fear, for they know I am skilled in the magical arts. But you have shown me compassion without thought of reward.”

Wilhelm helped the old woman to a fallen log where she could rest and eat the food he had offered. As they shared the simple meal, she began to tell him about her knowledge of the forest’s secrets.

The Gift of Magical Knowledge

“Because you have been kind to me,” the witch said, “I will share with you a secret that few mortals know. In this forest grow two types of magical cabbages that possess extraordinary powers.”

She pointed to a patch of ordinary-looking vegetables growing nearby. “The white cabbages,” she explained, “have the power to heal any wound and restore youth and strength to those who eat them. But beware of the blue cabbages that grow beside them - anyone who eats from those will be transformed into a donkey.”

Wilhelm listened carefully to her words, fascinated by this knowledge of forest magic. The witch continued her instruction.

“The transformation is not permanent, however. If a donkey eats from the white cabbages, it will return to human form. This magic can be a powerful tool for justice, but it must be used wisely.”

The Parting Gift

As the old woman prepared to continue her journey, she gave Wilhelm a small pouch. “Inside this bag,” she said, “you will find seeds from both types of cabbage. Plant them carefully, and remember what I have taught you. Use this knowledge to help the innocent and punish the wicked.”

Wilhelm thanked the witch for her generous gift and her wisdom. He carefully tucked the pouch into his hunting pack and continued on his way, thinking about the extraordinary information he had just received.

Little did he know that he would soon have cause to use the magical cabbages sooner than he could have imagined.

The Robbery

Several days later, as Wilhelm was traveling to the nearest town to sell the game he had caught, he encountered three men on horseback blocking the forest path. They were well-dressed and armed, but something about their manner suggested they were not honest travelers.

“Stand and deliver!” called their leader, a tall man with a black beard and cruel eyes. “Give us your purse and your weapons, and we might let you live!”

Wilhelm assessed the situation quickly. He was outnumbered and the men were mounted while he was on foot. Fighting them directly would be foolish.

“Gentlemen,” Wilhelm said calmly, “I am merely a poor huntsman with little of value. But I do have some food that you might find interesting.”

The Clever Trap

Wilhelm reached into his pack and pulled out several of the blue cabbages, which looked like perfectly ordinary vegetables. “I have these fine cabbages,” he said. “They are particularly sweet and nourishing. Surely men of your obvious refinement would appreciate such a delicacy.”

The robbers laughed at the idea of being offered vegetables instead of gold, but their leader was intrigued. “These do look fresh and appetizing,” he admitted. “We have been traveling hard and could use some fresh food.”

Wilhelm prepared the cabbages with apparent care, making them look as appealing as possible. “Please, take as much as you like,” he offered generously. “A poor huntsman can afford to be generous with simple forest vegetables.”

The three robbers, thinking they were getting a good meal before robbing Wilhelm of his possessions, ate heartily of the blue cabbages. They found them surprisingly tasty and ate every bit Wilhelm offered.

The Transformation

Within minutes of finishing their meal, the three robbers began to undergo a startling transformation. Their clothes fell away as their bodies changed shape, their faces elongated into muzzles, and their hands and feet became hooves.

Soon, three very confused donkeys stood in the path where the robbers had been, their fine horses looking around in bewilderment at their transformed masters.

Wilhelm collected the robbers’ weapons and their purses (which were filled with gold they had stolen from other travelers) and secured the loose horses. The three donkey-robbers could only bray in protest as they realized what had happened to them.

The Merchant’s Daughter

Wilhelm led the three donkeys and their horses to the nearest town, where he reported the robbery to the local magistrate. The stolen gold was returned to its rightful owners, and Wilhelm was rewarded for his service to justice.

In the town, Wilhelm met a wealthy merchant who had heard about his encounter with the robbers. The merchant was so impressed by Wilhelm’s cleverness and honesty that he invited the young huntsman to dine at his home.

At dinner, Wilhelm met the merchant’s daughter, Elena, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who was fascinated by his story of the magical cabbages. As they talked, Wilhelm found himself falling in love with her grace, her wit, and her kind heart.

The False Suitor

However, Wilhelm soon learned that Elena was being courted by a nobleman who seemed charming and wealthy but who had a reputation for treating common people with cruelty and disdain. This nobleman, Count Roderick, had convinced Elena’s father that he would be a suitable husband for her.

Wilhelm could see that Elena was not happy with this arrangement, but she was dutiful to her father’s wishes. Count Roderick, meanwhile, was suspicious of Wilhelm and jealous of the attention Elena paid to the young huntsman’s stories.

One evening, Count Roderick challenged Wilhelm to prove his claims about the magical cabbages. “If you truly possess such power,” the count sneered, “surely you would not mind demonstrating it?”

The Count’s Comeuppance

Wilhelm realized that Count Roderick was trying to expose him as a fraud in front of Elena and her father. But Wilhelm also sensed something dishonest about the nobleman and decided to accept the challenge.

“Very well,” Wilhelm said calmly. “I will prepare a meal that will demonstrate the power of these magical vegetables. But you must promise to eat whatever I serve, exactly as I prepare it.”

Count Roderick agreed eagerly, confident that Wilhelm was bluffing and would be exposed as a liar.

Wilhelm carefully prepared a salad that included both white and blue cabbages, but he arranged them so that he could control who ate which type. He gave Elena and her father portions containing only the white cabbage, while Count Roderick received a generous helping of the blue variety.

The Revelation

As with the robbers, the transformation was swift and dramatic. Count Roderick found himself changed into a donkey, braying indignantly as his true nature was revealed through his new form.

Elena and her father, having eaten the white cabbage, felt refreshed and energized, but they were shocked by Count Roderick’s transformation.

“This magic reveals truth,” Wilhelm explained to the amazed family. “The cabbages respond to the nature of those who eat them. Good people are healed and strengthened, while those with evil in their hearts are transformed to match their true character.”

The Happy Resolution

Elena’s father, seeing the count’s transformation and understanding what it revealed about the nobleman’s character, immediately withdrew his consent to the marriage. He had been impressed by Wilhelm’s honesty and cleverness from the beginning, and now he saw clear proof of the young man’s good character.

Wilhelm allowed Count Roderick to remain a donkey for several days, during which time the transformed nobleman had to experience life from a very different perspective. When Wilhelm finally fed him the white cabbage that restored his human form, Count Roderick was a humbled and changed man.

“I have learned,” the former count said with genuine humility, “that there is more to a person’s worth than wealth and title. You have shown me the consequences of pride and cruelty.”

The Wedding

Wilhelm and Elena were married with her father’s blessing, and they used the magical cabbages wisely to help their community. The white cabbages provided healing for the sick and injured, while the blue cabbages served as a unique form of justice for those who refused to change their evil ways.

The three robber-donkeys eventually earned their transformation back to human form through hard work and genuine repentance. They became honest laborers in the town, grateful for the second chance Wilhelm’s magic had given them.

The Lesson of the Cabbages

The tale of Wilhelm and the magical cabbages became a beloved story throughout the region, teaching people that true magic lies not in the power to harm others, but in the wisdom to know when and how to use extraordinary abilities for justice and healing.

The story reminded everyone that our true nature eventually reveals itself, and that kindness and honesty are more powerful than wealth or noble birth in determining a person’s real worth.

Wilhelm and Elena lived happily together, using their magical knowledge to help others and to ensure that justice prevailed in their community. The witch’s gift had brought Wilhelm not only adventure and the power to right wrongs, but also the love of a good woman and a life filled with purpose and meaning.

And so the donkey cabbages continued to serve as a reminder that magic, like any power, is best used not for personal gain but for the protection of the innocent and the betterment of the world.