A tinderbox is a container made of wood or metal that people use to produce fire. It is a reusable matchbox used in ancient times.

Once upon a time, there was a soldier who was brave and kind. He had fought many wars and was on his way home. He had a knapsack on his back and a sword hanging from his belt. As he was passing through a forest, he came across an old witch blocking his path. She was scary looking.

“Hello!” said the soldier nervously, “Can you please move from my path?”

The old witch replied, “You look like a soldier – brave and strong. If you do what I ask you to, you will get a lot of money.”

The soldier thought for a while. He hardly had any money and did not know where or how he would live.

“It is not a bad idea to earn a few coins,” thought the soldier.

“What do you want me to do?” asked the soldier to the old witch.

“Come with me,” said the old witch. She took the soldier to a large tree.

“Climb this tree. When you reach the top, you will notice it is hollow in the centre. Tie this rope around you and climb down the tree. Don’t worry, I will hold onto the rope,” said the witch.

“What do I do once I get to the bottom of the tree?” asked the soldier.

The witch replied, “You will find a long passage lighted by a hundred lamps. There will be three doors. If you open the first door, you will find a dog with eyes as big as saucers guarding a treasure chest. Do not worry about the dog. Take this cloak of mine and cover the dog with it. He will not hurt you. The treasure chest will contain copper coins. You can open the chest and take as many coins as you can.”

“That sounds simple. What is behind the second and the third doors?” asked the soldier.

“There will be a dog behind each of the other two doors guarding treasure chests. The second room will have silver coins, and the third will have gold coins. You can use my cloak, cover the dog with it and take as many silver or gold coins as you like,” said the witch.

“Why are you telling me this? What will you get out of it?” asked the soldier, suspiciously.

“All I ask you to do is get me the tinderbox that will be lying in the passage. It was my grandmother’s. She left it there by mistake the last time she had gone there,” answered the witch.

The soldier did as the witch said. First, he climbed down the hollow tree. Then he walked down the passage and went into the room with copper coins. After placing the shawl on top of the dog, he filled his knapsack with copper coins. Then he went to the second room and put the cloak on the dog. Realising there was no place in his knapsack, he emptied the copper coins and replaced them with silver.

When he went to the third room and saw the chest with gold coins, he removed the silver coins from his knapsack and filled it with gold. “I am rich. I never have to worry about money,” thought the soldier.

He then decided to return. He yelled to the witch from the bottom, “Please pull me up.”

“Did you get the tinderbox?” asked the witch.

“Oh! I forgot. I will get it now,” said the soldier. He found the tinderbox and called out to the witch again.

The witch pulled him out and said, “Give me the tinderbox.”

“I will give it to you. But I need to know what you will do with it,” said the soldier.

The witch got agitated. Rudely, she said, “What is it to you? You have your money. Now give me the tinderbox and leave.”

The soldier was shrewd. Realising the witch was up to no good, he unsheathed his sword. Seeing the sword, the witch got scared and ran away.

The soldier went to the town and booked the best room in the best inn. He led a life of luxury, entertaining many friends. Remembering his life when he was penniless, he always donated to the less fortunate.

One day, while he was with his friends, he told them, “I have heard that our King has a beautiful daughter. Have any of you seen the Princess?”

“No,” replied a friend. “According to a prophecy, the Princess will marry a soldier. The King was unhappy hearing this prophecy, so has locked the Princess in a tower. No one except the King, Queen and the Princess’ maids can see her.”

“How I wish I could see her,” thought the soldier.

Months passed, and the soldier continued spending all his money on himself, his friends and donating generously. Unfortunately, with no income, one day, the soldier lost all his wealth. He also lost all his friends. He moved to a cheap room in the attic that was cold and dark. He
did not even have a match to light up the fireplace. Then, remembering the tinderbox in his knapsack, he struck it once.

To his astonishment, the dog with eyes as big as saucers appeared in front of him. “What are your orders, master?” asked the dog.

“I need money,” said the soldier. The dog vanished and returned with copper coins.

The soldier soon realised that striking the tinderbox once brought the dog guarding the copper coins, striking twice brought the dog guarding the silver coins and thrice brought the dog guarding the gold coins. The dogs granted each of his wishes. The soldier bought a huge house and lived a life of leisure.

One day, the soldier had struck the tinderbox to bring the dog with saucer eyes.

“How I wish I could meet the princess,” thought the soldier aloud.

Before the soldier knew it, the dog vanished and brought the Princess with him. Seeing herself in a strange room frightened the Princess.

“I am sorry, Princess. I was thinking aloud about you, and my dog brought you with him. It was wrong to bring you without permission. He will take you back immediately,” said the soldier.

The Princess looked at the soldier thoughtfully and decided he was a good person.

She said, “It is nice to meet you. I have not encountered anyone except my parents and maids in a long time. It would be nice to have a friend.”

The soldier was pleased to hear this. They spent a long time chatting.

When it was time to leave, the Princess asked, “Can you bring me tomorrow again? I would love for us to continue our conversation.”

Happily, the soldier agreed. The dog brought the Princess back to her room.

Unfortunately, a maid noticed her absence. The next day, she reported the news to the Queen, who said, “If she goes anywhere tonight, follow her and let me know where she goes.”

That night, the dog again came to take the Princess to the soldier. The maid followed the Princess and marked a large cross on the door of the soldier’s house. She then went back to her home to sleep. The dog noticed the cross on the door, and marked all the house doors in the street. The next day the maid brought the King and the Queen to the road but got confused when she could not find the soldier’s house.

The Queen was a clever lady. She asked the maid to pour some wet paint on the floor of the Princess’ bedroom. When the dog carried her the next day, the colour covered the dog’s paws, and the trail led to the soldier’s house. The King ordered his guards to arrest the soldier and sentenced the soldier to be hanged the next day.

While in prison, the soldier watched the street through a small window and saw a young boy. Calling the boy, he said, “Bring the tinderbox from my house. I will reward you well.”

The boy brought the tinderbox to the soldier. The next day, when the soldier was about to be hanged, the King asked him for his final wish.

The soldier said, “I wish to light a match, your majesty.”

The King agreed. The soldier took his tinderbox and struck it once, then twice and finally three times. All three dogs appeared before him, growling at everyone.

“What are your orders, master?” asked the dogs.

“Save me,” said the soldier.

The dogs bit all the guards and chased them out. As they reached the King and the Queen, the King yelled, “Stop! Don’t you know who I am?”

Mid-way during the King’s rant, the dogs grabbed the King and Queen and threw them away as well. The King, Queen and the Kings guards ran away for their life.

The public that had come to watch the soldier’s execution was very impressed with the soldier. They were happy that the cruel King was no longer their ruler. They wanted the Princess to rule over the Kingdom.

The Princess ruled wisely for many years. She married the soldier, and they lived happily ever after.

Author’s Note:

Tinderbox was the first published fairy tale by Andersen.

Though an original Andersen’s fairy tale, Andersen has been inspired by the Arabian Nights. It has elements from Aladdin (tinderbox replacing a lamp, dogs instead of a genie, witch instead of a wizard) and Ali Baba and the forty thieves (marking of the house by the maid).