Thumbling
"Thumbling," published in German as "Daumesdick" (literally, "Thumb-thick") is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in Grimm's Fairy Tales in 1819 (KHM 37). The Grimms included another, similar story, "Thumbling's Travels." Both stories are related to the English Tom Thumb and often share its title when translated into English. It is categorized as Aarne-Thompson type 700 ("Tom Thumb") and also contains an episode of type 41 ("Overeating in the Pantry"). Synopsis In "Thumbling", a poor childless peasant couple wishes for a child "no matter how small" aloud. Seven months later the wife has a small child "no longer than a thumb" which they call "Thumbling" and who becomes a "wise and nimble creature." Thumbling as he grows wishes to help his father in the chores so one day asks if he can lead their horse to where his father is working by sitting in the horse's ear and giving it directions. As Thumbling performs this chore, two strange men notice the horse being led by a loud voice, and when they find out the voice belongs to a person sitting in the horse's ear, ask the peasant if they can buy Thumbling to "make a fortune" in