e myself of
this shape," stuck his nose deep down into the plant and inhaled its
fragrance.

Thereupon a stretching and cracking took place in all his limbs; he
felt his head being raised from his shoulders; he squinted down at his
nose and saw it getting smaller and smaller; his back and breast began
to straighten out, and his legs grew longer.

The goose looked on in astonishment. "Ha! how tall, how handsome you
are!" exclaimed she. "Thank God! nothing remains of your former shape?"
Jacob, greatly rejoiced, folded his hands and prayed. But in his joy he
did not forget how much he was indebted to the goose; he longed with
all his heart to go at once to his parents, but gratitude caused him to
forego this pleasure, and to say: "Whom but you have I to thank for my
restoration. Without you I should never have found this plant, and
should have forever remained a dwarf, or have died under the ax. Come,
I will take you to your father; he, who is so experienced in magic, can
easily disenchant you." The goose wept tears of joy, and accepted his
offer. Jacob walked safely out of the palace with the goose, without
being recognized, and started at once on his way to the coast to reach
Mimi's home.

What shall I say further? That they reached their journey's end safely;
that Wetterbock disenchanted his daughter, and sent Jacob, loaded down
with presents, back to his native city; and that his parents easily
recognized their son in the handsome young man; that he bought a shop
with the presents given him by Wetterbock; and that he became rich and
happy.

To this I will add, that after Jacob's escape from the palace, great
trouble ensued; for on the following day, as the duke was about to
carry out his threat of taking off the dwarf's head if he did not
succeed in finding the plant, that individual was nowhere to be found.
But the prince asserted that the duke had connived at his escape, so as
not to be compelled to kill his best cook; and the prince accused the
duke of breaking his word. From this a great war broke out between the
two rulers, which is known to history as "The Vegetable War." Many
battles were fought, but finally peace was restored, and this peace was
called "The Pastry Peace," inasmuch as at the peace banquet, the
Souzeraine, queen of the pastries, was prepared by the prince's cook,
and rejoiced the palate of his grace, the duke.

Thus do the most trivial causes often lead to great results; and this,
O Sire,