Brother Jim tried and failed to bring the Senator’s mistress back to life. But St. Peter saved the day. Here’s how he did it.

I went and stood before the bones of the senator’s mistress that I had arranged the best I could. Just as St. Peter had done with he Mayor’s daughter I said, “In the name of the most Holy Trinity, you who are dead, arise.” I said this three times, but the bones didn’t move. So I said it again three more times in vain. “Arise you silly goose, if you know what’s good for you!” I said.

Just then St. Peter in his former disguise of a sailor suddenly came walking through the window and siad, “You wicked man, what do you think you are doing? How can the dead mistress arise when you have thrown her bones in such a jumble?”

“I did the best I could, old friend,” I answered.

“This time I will help you out of your trouble. But I tell you one thing,” warned St. Peter. “If you ever do anything like this again it will be a bad day’s work for you. And don’t even think about asking for a penny from the senator.

So St. Pete laid the bones in the right order, said three time, “In the name of the most Holy Trinity, you who are dead, arise,” and the mistress arose and was healthy and beautiful as ever. Then St. Peter went back through the window.

I was glad that everything had turned out so well, but it annoyed me that I was not allowed to take the reward. That fellow must have some sort of bee in his bonnet, I thought; what he gives with one hand he takes away with the other. It doesn’t make any sense.

The senator offered me whatever I wanted, but I couldn’t take anything. Nevertheless, by hints and cunning, I brought it about that the senator had my knapsack filled with one hundred dollar bills from a kickback he’d taken. And I went on my way.

Monday: “The Magic Sack”

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The Adventures of Brother Jim based on the story “Brother Gaily” from The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from Grimm.