A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

A beaten rooster finds a small purse and relentlessly pursues the gentleman whose driver steals it. Each attempt to destroy the bird enlarges its resources. Thrown into a well, it drinks all the water and escapes; confined over burning coals, it disgorges that water to extinguish the fire. Among cattle intended to trample or gore it, it swallows the whole herd. Shut into the treasury in the hope that coins will choke it, it instead empties every chest.

Its belly becomes mountain-sized, and its spread wings darken the gentleman’s room. Eventually the purse is surrendered. Other poultry follow the bird home, where its size is compared with an elephant appearing as small as a flea. At its master’s request it disgorges the cattle and shakes out the ducats onto a sheet. The story does not kill the swallowed herd or make the coins a separate magical purse that generates gold.

The contrasting hen brings home only a swallowed glass bead and is beaten to death by its owner. The successful rooster stays with the now-wealthy old man, who adorns it with a golden collar, yellow boots and heel-spurs. The gentleman’s accusations of witchcraft and devilry express his anger; they are not a revealed demonic identity. The edition’s preface identifies this fifth tale as a work of Creanga in Convorbiri Literare.

Repeats demand for stolen purseSwallows well waterExtinguishes fireSwallows cattle and coinsEnormous expanding body
01

Origins & earliest records

Roumanian Fairy Tales, collected by Mite Kremnitz, adapted and arranged by J. M. Percival (New York: Henry Holt, 1885), The Little Purse with two Half-pennies, pp. 56–61.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected English narrative, including the contrasting hen’s death and the rooster’s continued life with its master. Preface assigns tale 5 to Creanga.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Roumanian Fairy Tales: The Little Purse with two Half-pennies, pp. 56–61

    Mite Kremnitz, collector; J. M. Percival, adapter and arranger · 1885

    Preface assigns tale 5 to Creanga in Convorbiri Literare. Complete selected English narrative; Romanian original not collated.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary historical English adaptationKremnitz/Percival 1885: The Little PurseResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

FT·886 · RESEARCH EDITION 01Back to top ↑