Three Billy Goats Gruff Fairy Tale

Once upon a time there were three billy goats: a little goat, a middle-sized goat and a big goat. They wanted to cross the river to a green meadow and eat grass until they were nice and fat.

There was a wooden bridge over the river. Under the bridge lived a grumpy troll with huge eyes and a long nose. Anyone who crossed the bridge, the troll wanted to catch.

First the little goat stepped onto the bridge: trip-trap, trip-trap. "Who is that crossing my bridge?" roared the troll. "It is only me, the little billy goat. Don't eat me, I am too thin. My brother is coming next, and he is much fatter," said the little goat. "Very well, off you go," grunted the troll.

Next came the middle-sized goat: trip-trap, trip-trap. "Who is crossing?" "It is me, the middle-sized billy goat. Don't eat me. My big brother is coming after me." The troll let him pass too.

Last of all, the big goat stepped onto the bridge: TRIP-TRAP, TRIP-TRAP! The bridge creaked and groaned. "Who is crossing?" The troll leapt up onto the bridge, but the big goat butted him with his horns, and the troll flew into the river. The current carried him away, and he never came back.

The three goats reached the meadow and ate as much grass as they liked. They say they got so fat they could hardly walk home. And the bridge has been free for everyone ever since.