Little Muck (German fairy tale)

Little Muck is a German fairy tale collected by Wilhelm Hauff and published in his 1826 fairy tale collection. It tells the story of a small, oddly-proportioned man named Muck, who leaves his home after being ridiculed following his father's death. He seeks his fortune and eventually finds employment with an eccentric old woman.

Muck works for the woman, Dame Ahavzi, in her unusual house, serving as a guard for her cats. He witnesses strange and magical occurrences, including the feeding habits of the cats and the discovery of a pair of magical slippers and a cane. These slippers allow the wearer to run incredibly fast, and the cane can locate buried treasure.

Muck steals the slippers and the cane, intending to use them to make his fortune. However, he is tricked by a king who desires the slippers for himself. Muck is punished and almost executed but manages to escape.

He then uses the cane to locate a buried treasure: two bags, one filled with gold and the other with a type of fruit that causes donkeys ears to grow from the head and long noses. He uses this fruit to trick the king and his court, disfiguring them. Muck offers the king the cure (another type of fruit from a hidden tree he discovered), in exchange for the slippers and the cane.

Having recovered his magical items, Muck becomes rich and respected, using his abilities to help others and eventually becoming a respected figure in the kingdom he had once been wronged in. The story emphasizes themes of overcoming adversity, using one's wits to succeed, and the potential for redemption and forgiveness. It also explores themes of greed, envy, and the dangers of judging people based on their appearance.