Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie

KHM 131

Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie

This is the Brothers Grimm version of the story and translated into English by Margarate Hunt.

The approximate narration time is 2 minutes

"Good-day, Father Hollenthe." - "Many thanks, Pif-Paf-Poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your daughter?" - "Oh, yes, if Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister Kasetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her." - "Where is Mother Malcho, then?" - "She is in the cow-house, milking the cow."

"Good-day, Mother Malcho." - "Many thanks, Pif-Paf-Poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your daughter?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister Kasetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her." - "Where is Brother High-and-Mighty, then?" - "He is in the room chopping some wood."

"Good-day, Brother High-and-Mighty." - "Many thanks, Pif-Paf-Poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your sister?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Sister Kasetraut, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you can have her." - "Where is Sister Kasetraut, then?" - "She is in the garden cutting cabbages."

"Good-day, sister Kasetraut." - "Many thanks, Pif-Paf-Poltrie." - "May I be allowed to have your sister?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, and fair Katrinelje are willing, you may have her." - "Where is fair Katrinelje, then?" - "She is in the room counting out her farthings."

"Good day, fair Katrinelje." - "Many thanks, Pif-Paf-Poltrie." - "Wilt thou be my bride?" - "Oh, yes, if Father Hollenthe, Mother Malcho, Brother High-and-Mighty, and Sister Kasetraut are willing, I am ready."

"Fair Katrinelje, how much dowry do hast thou?" - "Fourteen farthings in ready money, three and a half groschen owing to me, half a pound of dried apples, a handful of fried bread, and a handful of spices.

And many other things are mine,
Have I not a dowry fine?

Pif-Paf-Poltrie, what is thy trade? Art thou a tailor?" - "Something better." - "A shoemaker?" - "Something better." - "A husbandman?" - "Something better." - "A joiner?" - "Something better." - "A smith?" - "Something better." - "A miller?" - "Something better." - "Perhaps a broom-maker?" - "Yes, that's what I am, is it not a fine trade?"

KHM: Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children's and Household Tales)

Malcho: Milk-cow

Kasetraut: Cheese-trust

groschen: This German coin's name is derived from the double cross on its obverse side. See Groschen Cross.