"Follow Me, Jodel!" (German:Jodl, rutsch mir nach) is a German Fairy Tale collected by Franz Xaver von Schönwerth. An English translation can be read in the The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales collection.
An old farmer has two sons, Michael and Jodel. Jodel is less bright but more good-hearted than his big brother, which is why their father is especially fond of Jodel and wants to leave him his farm. Since Michael does not agree and insists on his firstborn rights, the old farmer proposes a challenge: whoever brings the most beautiful silk cloth will inherit all his property.
Michael quickly heads off to look for silky fabrics, but Jodel has never left their home and does not know where to begin. Jodel is sitting on a bench, brooding over his predicament, when a toad hops over to him, and after asking him about the cause of his grief, assures him she can help him out. Jodel feels reluctant to follow the ugly critter, but nevertheless he crawls behind her until they reach a house in the woods. The toad calls a mouse and asks her to bring the trunk with the beautiful silk fabrics. The toad picks out the best cloth, and gives it to Jodel, who runs back home.
Jodel and Michael compare their two fabrics back at home, and it is clear that Jodel's is the best one. Michael asks a new bet, and their father asks them to bring a jacket. Michael bolts off immediately, but Jodel sits down on the bench and starts brooding again. The toad reappears, asks Jodel to follow her again, and gives him a beautiful jacket.
Michael gets real angry upon losing the second bet, and insists on a third task. So his father says his heir will be whoever brings back the loveliest bride. Jodel sits down near the door, unsure of what to do, when the toad reappears. Jodel does not want to listen to her because he is sure the toad cannot help him find a bride, but the toad insists on Jodel following her again.
When they are back on the house, the toad tells Jodel he will get his lovely bride if he washes her, puts her in bed and lies down next to her. Jodel follows her instructions, even though he feels creeped out about sleeping next to a toad, and falls asleep.
When Jodel wakes up in the morning, the toad has turned into a beautiful maiden, the mouse into a chambermaid and the house into a castle surrounded by fertile grounds. The maiden wakes up, thanks Jodel for lifting the curse, and offers her hand in gratitude. Jodel is still bemused about everything, but he accepts.
Jodel and her new fiancee go back to his father's house. Michael gets upset because he has lost the contest: Jodel's fiancee is more beautiful than the pretty young girl which he has gotten engaged to. However, Jodel says his brother can keep the farm: he has his own lands now, and he is not greedy.
The father of the two young men was overjoyed that Jodel was now so well situated and that Michael was content as well. He went to live with the son he liked best, and they dwelled in harmony. If they have not yet died, then they are still living happily today.
In the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index it is classified as an ATU 402 "The Animal Bride".
Compare with "The Frog Prince" and "Prince Lindworm". For other tales which use "The Animal Bride" theme check The Brothers Grimm "The Three Feathers” and "The Poor Miller's Son and the Cat".
Tropes:
- Bewitched Amphibians: The toad who helps Jodel turns out to be a cursed maiden.
- Curse: A beautiful maiden and her entourage are turned into little animals, frogs and mice by a curse. Even her castle is transformed into a small cottage.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Although Jodel and his brother Michael are named, their father is only known as "the old farmer".
- Forced Transformation: The maiden and her entourage had been transformed into tiny farm animals by a curse.
- Kindhearted Simpleton: The titular character is his father's favorite child because he is dumb but good-hearted.
- No Name Given: Readers never learn the name of the maiden who Jodel turns back into human and gets married to.
- Parental Favoritism: The old farmer has two sons, Michael and Jodel. He is fonder of Jodel because he has a good heart, even though he is less bright than his brother, to the point he hopes to leave his farm to Jodel, even though he is the younger son. Michael is understandably not happy about it.
- Rags to Riches: Jodel, a simple farmer's son, becomes lord of a castle after uncursing a princess.
- Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Subverted. Jodel feels nauseous when the toad comes near him, believing such a repulsive critter must want to do him harm. Even so, Jodel follows the toad's instructions, and he finds the ugly animal is both kind and helpful.
- Rule of Three: Jodel must beat his brother Michael in three challenges to inherit his father's lands: he must bring the most beautiful silk cloth, the best leather jacket and the loveliest bride.
- Sore Loser: Since Michael does not agree with his father leaving the farm to his little brother, the old farmer proposes a contest. When Michael loses, he asks his father to propose another task. When he loses again, Michael insists on another new bet.
- Standard Hero Reward: The maiden offers Jodel her hand in gratitude, along with her castle and lands, in gratitude for lifting the curse which transformed her and her servants into toads and mice.
- Talking Animal: A toad approaches Jodel to tell him how he can win his father's challenges.
- Tears of Joy: Tears roll down Michael's cheeks when Jodel says he can keep their father's farm since he now has plenty of money and will not leave his brother destitute.
- Title Drop: Every time Jodel is wondering how he can beat his father's challenges, a friendly talking toad approaches him and offers her help by telling: "Follow me, Jodel!"
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Jodel thinks nothing of a toad being able to speak. He does not even wonder why it wants to help him (or how it knows he needs help in the first place). He never questions why it owns a house in the woods, taken care by a mouse servant who can also speak. In fact, Jodel shows a bigger reaction to its ugliness than to everything else.
- Uptown Girl: After being transformed back to normal, the rich maiden gets married to the kind farmer who rescued her.
- Weddings for Everyone: Jodel ends married to the maiden who he uncursed, and his brother to a cute farmer.
- Youngest Child Wins: Subverted. Jodel beats his older brother Michael in the contest over his father's inheritance; but Jodel declares he does not need their father's lands since he has married a rich maiden, so that Michael can keep the farm.
