In The Golden Goose, Dummling, the youngest and simplest of three brothers, is sent into the forest to chop wood. He shares his food and drink with a little gray man who directs him to a tree which, when chopped down, is found to contain a golden goose.

Dummling sets off on a journey with the goose under his arm, eventually arriving in a kingdom wherein the king will offer his daughter's hand in marriage to any man who can make her laugh. This fairy tale, which features many common folk idioms ("least of three", "princess prize", "the fairy gift") has numerous versions (The Princess Who Never Smiled, Peruonto) in other languages and cultures.