Once there was a man who had twelve children. He was so poor that he ha to work day and night to feed them all. When he had a thirteen child he didn’t know what to do. He ran onto the street in the intent of asking the first person he met to be the child’s godfather. The first person that the man met was god himself. Since he already knew what the man was thinking he told him, “Poor man, I pity you. I agree to be the child’s godfather, help take care of it, and make sure that it has a happy life down here on earth.” The man asked the stranger, “Stranger, may I know you name?” “I am God,” was the reply, “Then I do not wish for you to be my child’s godfather. You leave the poor people to be and only look over the rich.” Was the man’s answer because he did not know how wisely God governed over the world. He left and went further looking for someone that could be the godfather of his child.

Then the man met the Devil, ‘What are you searching for poor man? If you make me the godfather of you child then I will give him all the gold and treasure he ever desires” The man asks the stranger, “Stranger, may I know you name?” “I am the Devil,” was the reply, “Then I do not wish for you to be my child’s godfather. You deceive, trick and lad astray us men,” was the man’s answer. He left the devil and went onwards looking for someone that could be the child’s godfather.

Next the man met Death all crumpled and old. Death said to him, “Take me as your child’s godfather. The man asks the stranger, “Stranger, may I know you name?” “I am Death, and I make everyone equal,” was the reply, “You are the right one to be the godfather of my child. You take both the rich and the poor you do not see any different between them.” Death nodded, “I will make your child rich and famous, for if you are my friend you lack nothing.” After telling Death the place and time of the christening the man left. Death came to the christening like he promised and became the child’s godfather.

When the boy grew up his godfather came to visit him one day. He led him into a forest and showed him an herb that grew there. He told the boy that today was the day that he would receive his godfather’s present. “I will make you a famous physician. Your name will be known by everyone. When you call on a patient, I will appear to you. If I am standing at the head of the patient then they shall live, and you must feed them with some of the herb that you have in you hands. If I am standing at the foot of the patient, them they are to die, and there is no cure that will save him. Do not use the herb against me for it will cause your downfall.” It was not long before the youth was the most well know physician in the world. “He only has to look at the patient and he knows if he will live or die, and what kind of medicine will save him.” Everyone whispered, and people from far and wide came to him. They gave him so much money for curing them that he soon became a very rich man.

One day the physician was called to the palace where the king was very ill. When the physician came in he saw his godfather at the foot of the king. He could not believe it. How could his godfather rid the kingdom of such a wonderful man? His successors were not ready to take on the responsibilities of being ruler, the kingdom would fall apart. Yet, wouldn't the herb save the king? It is true take he was told not to defy his godfather, but just this once wouldn't hurt. Death would not hurt him, he was his godson, and he must also understand that this is for the good of the kingdom.

So the physician gave the king the herb. The king was soon well and could go back to ruling the kingdom, but the physician was not so well of. As soon as he gave the king the herb he was face to face with his godfather. "What do you think you are doing? The souls that have lived their life are mine, they come to me. You have no right taking them away from me. I will forgive you this time, but beware, and do not do this again for you will be gravely punished. Now go."

Soon everything was back to normal and the godson got even more famous still. One day he was called back to the palace. This time it wasn't the king that was sick but hi daughter. The princess was a beautiful thing, and made many heads turn. When the godson came in and found to this horror Death standing at her feet he didn't know what to do. She was too beautiful to die so young. Would his godfather forgive him this one more time? He must understand that the girl's beauty would be much more appreciated here on earth then deep in the ground where only bugs would be able to see her. Against his godfather's wishes he gave the princess the magical herb.

As soon as he did he found himself in a dark room filled with candles. His only companion was his godfather. "Look around my godson, look at all these candles. They are not here to light up the room. These candles represent the lives of those on earth. The long ones have still a long life to live, while the ones that are quite short, the life is close to its end. Now come with me, I will show you your own candle." The godson was lead around many candles and they finally got to one that stood all alone.

the physician turned pale. The candle was close to flickering of. How could this be he started to ask, I still have a long life to live. "On the contrary," was his godfather's reply, "you have defied my orders and now you must pay. You must pay for the souls that you have talked from me with your own. Good-bye dear godson."