The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs

In this tale, the boy's ultimate obedience to his destiny—accepting his lucky star's path despite the count's cruel interventions—demonstrates the virtue of obedience to God's will. A poor man's son, born under a lucky star destined to marry the count's daughter, is cast into a river by a jealous count. Rescued and raised by a miller, the boy survives. Years later, the count sets him an impossible task: retrieve three gold hairs from the Devil's head. The boy journeys to the Devil's house, where the Devil's grandmother shelters him. While the Devil sleeps, she extracts three golden hairs. With each removal, the Devil shouts out riddles in his sleep. The grandmother answers them: a toad blocks a wine-well, a mouse gnaws a barren tree's root, and a ferryman is bound to his post until another takes his place. The boy uses these answers to gain wealth and favor from grateful kings, ultimately fulfilling the prophecy. His faithful obedience to his calling—neither fleeing nor despairing at the count's tests—allows him to marry the count's daughter and claim his destined fortune.