A poor man encounters Death who agrees not to take him if he can find someone willing to die in his place within 7 years. The man finds a greedy doctor who agrees to take his place if he is given riches. However, when Death comes for the doctor, the doctor tries to send his coachman instead. Death is angered by this trickery and takes both the doctor and coachman.

1. Der Gevatter Tod, Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children's
and Household Tales -- Grimms' Fairy Tales), 7th ed.
(Berlin, 1857), no. 44

2. Exposition

3. The initial situation

12. The interdiction

17. The trickery

20. The complicity

24. Violation

27. The wedding

30. Final punishment

32. The poor man: hopeless.
Doctor: selfish, greedy, and rebellious.
Death: firm and consistent.