Once upon a time there was a young tailor. He was short in stature, dressed in old clothes, and made his living by mending garments. Though he was a skilled craftsman, sewing quickly and precisely, he possessed little money. He lived in a small cottage and worked late into the night every day. One day, he decided to leave his hometown to see the world beyond, hoping to find a better life.
He walked and walked, crossing fields and climbing over hills, until he finally entered a vast forest. The forest was dense and dark, with trees so tall that sunlight could not penetrate. He walked for a long time, and as night slowly fell, he realized he was lost. All around was quiet, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind. He felt a little afraid and wanted to find a place to sleep.
He looked up at the trees and thought, “Maybe I could sleep in one tonight?” He climbed an oak tree and sat on a sturdy branch. He had brought an iron, so he held it close to his chest to keep the wind from blowing him off. He sat there all night, cold and afraid, listening to the distant cries of wild beasts, sleeping fitfully.
As dawn approached, he spotted a faint light in the distance. “Someone must live there!” he thought. “I can ask for shelter.” He scrambled down the tree and headed toward the light. After walking a while, he reached a small wooden cottage. He knocked softly, and the door opened. A tiny old man with white hair peered out.
“Who are you? What do you want?” the old man asked, his tone unfriendly.
“I’m a poor tailor who’s lost my way. I’d like to sleep here tonight,” the tailor replied.
At first, the old man refused, saying, “I don’t like strangers.” But the tailor pleaded persistently, and eventually the old man relented, letting him inside. He gave the tailor some bread and water, then made up a bed in the corner of the room. Exhausted, the tailor lay down and fell instantly asleep.
The next morning, he was startled awake by a tremendous crash. He jumped up, threw on his clothes, and ran outside. Not far away, he saw a huge black bull and a beautiful deer locked in combat. They were butting heads with such force the ground shook. After a long struggle, the deer finally gored the bull with its antlers. The bull collapsed and died.
The tailor stood frozen in terror. Suddenly, the deer charged toward him, goring him with its antlers and dragging him along. It raced through forests, mountains, and rocky terrain at breakneck speed. The tailor clung desperately to the antlers, afraid to let go. He felt as if he were flying.
Finally, the deer stopped before a massive stone wall and gently set the tailor down. Terrified, the tailor sat on the ground, gasping for breath. Then, a voice came from within the wall: “Come in. Don’t be afraid. No one here will harm you.”
The tailor hesitated, but stepped forward. He found an iron door in the wall. Pushing it open, he entered a vast cavern. The interior was immaculate, with neatly laid stone slabs covering the walls, floor, and ceiling. Each slab bore strange symbols he couldn’t decipher.
Just as he considered leaving, the voice spoke again: “Stand on the central stone slab. Good fortune awaits you.”
Summoning his courage, the tailor stepped onto it. The stone suddenly shifted, slowly sinking downward. After a moment, he emerged in another cavern. This one was as large as the first but even more peculiar. Glass bottles lined the walls, each containing colorful liquids or blue smoke. In the center stood two transparent coffins, facing each other.
Curiosity drew the tailor closer. He examined one coffin first. Inside was a miniature castle, complete with houses, stables, and warehouses—all exquisitely crafted like toys. As he gazed in fascination, the voice spoke again: “Look at the other one.”
He turned and saw a young girl lying in the second coffin. Her eyes were closed, as if asleep.Her long hair covered her entire body. Her skin was pale, and her chest rose and fell gently with each breath. She looked as if she were alive.
Suddenly, the girl opened her eyes. Spotting the tailor, she cried out joyfully, “Thank you! Help me out quickly! Just push the bar at the back of the coffin, and I’ll be free!”
The tailor did as she asked. She sat up, lifted the coffin lid, and stepped out. She walked to a corner, draped a large cloak over her shoulders, and sat down on a stone. She motioned for the tailor to sit beside her, kissed his lips, and said, “I’ve waited for you for so long. You saved me, and now my suffering is over. Because you saved me, you will live a good life from now on—filled with wealth and happiness. I will love you, and you will love me.Sit down, and I’ll tell you my story.“
The Maiden’s Past: How She Was Imprisoned
”I was once the daughter of a count, born into great wealth. But my parents died when I was very young. They entrusted me to my brother. He raised me, and we were very close. Neither of us ever planned to marry.
One night, a stranger arrived at our castle, claiming he was too exhausted to travel and asked to stay the night. We invited him to dine with us, and he told many fascinating stories that had us laughing heartily. My brother took a great liking to him and invited him to stay longer, which he gladly accepted.
That night, just as I fell asleep, I heard beautiful music. I woke to see the stranger entering my room. He claimed he had awakened me with magic and could pass through locked doors at will. I disliked him and ignored him. He grew angry and vowed revenge.
The next morning, I went to find my brother but discovered he was gone. The servants said he had left early that morning to hunt with the stranger.Fearing the worst, I immediately rode out to find them. Along the way, my attendant fell and was injured, so I continued the pursuit alone.
I saw the stranger approaching, leading a deer. When I asked where my brother was, the deer suddenly began to weep. I knew something terrible had happened. Enraged, I drew my gun and fired at the stranger, but the bullet ricocheted back, killing my horse and knocking me unconscious.
When I awoke, I found myself imprisoned in this crystal coffin. That stranger was a sorcerer. He told me he had transformed my brother into a deer, shrunk our castle and all its contents, and placed them inside another crystal coffin. My servants and subjects were turned into smoke and sealed within bottles.
He said he’d release everyone if I agreed to his demands. But I refused. So he locked me here, and I slowly drifted off. In my dreams, I saw a young man come to save me. Now you’ve arrived—my dream has come true! Please help me finish what remains.”
Saving the Castle and People Together
The girl and the tailor first returned to the lower cave, carrying the crystal coffin holding the castle to the central stone. The stone began to rise, carrying them back to the upper cave. They emerged from the cave and stepped outside.
The girl lifted the coffin lid, and a miracle occurred: the tiny castle instantly grew large, restored to its original form. Houses, stables, and barns all returned, exactly as they had been before.
Then they returned to the cave and carried each bottle of smoke to the stone. With every bottle opened, blue smoke billowed out, transforming into a living person. The girl recognized her servants and villagers—all had returned.
Her greatest joy came when she saw her brother emerging from the woods. It turned out that her brother, transformed into a deer, had killed the sorcerer (who had become an ox), and now he had regained his human form.
All were safe now. The castle was restored, and the people had returned. The girl kept her promise and married the brave and kind tailor. They lived together in the castle, enjoying a happy life. The tailor was no longer a poor tailor; he became the count’s son-in-law, gaining status and wealth. But most importantly, he found love.
The Truth Behind the Story
On the surface, this tale is a fairy tale about an ordinary man rescuing a princess and living happily ever after. Yet beneath it lies a deeper message: “Kindness and courage can change destiny.” Though poor, the tailor was not wicked. He was polite, willing to help others, and unafraid to face danger. He did not flee out of fear but followed his heart and did what was right.Though trapped, the maiden refused to yield to the sorcerer’s threats. She stood by her choice and waited for true help to arrive.
The crystal coffin, magic, and transformations in the story are all symbols. The crystal coffin represents a “state of being trapped”—perhaps loneliness, perhaps fear, or perhaps unfair treatment. The tailor’s arrival symbolizes hope and change. He didn’t defeat the enemy through strength, but through action and kindness, he accomplished the rescue.
What Lesson Does the Story Teach Us?
This story teaches us: A person’s identity and background matter little; what truly counts is how they act. Even if you’re an ordinary person, as long as you have courage, are willing to help others, and persist in doing what’s right, you too can achieve extraordinary things. Kindness and perseverance can sometimes be more powerful than wealth and power.
At the same time, the story also teaches us: Don’t easily trust strangers, especially those who seem too perfect or too smooth-talking.The wizard seemed friendly at first, but harbored malicious intent. We must learn to discern truth from falsehood and protect ourselves.
Ultimately, true happiness isn’t conjured by magic, but achieved through mutual trust, love, and shared effort. The tailor and the girl’s marriage wasn’t built on who saved whom, but on their mutual understanding and willingness to face the future together. That is the most precious thing of all.
