There was once a beautiful young Princess who had been promised in
marriage to the Prince of a far country.
When the time for the marriage came she made ready to journey to his
country, for it was there that the wedding was to be celebrated, and
not in her own land.
Her mother furnished her with all sorts of grand jewels and beautiful
clothes to carry with her, and furniture and linens, and she also made
her a present of a wonderful horse named Falada, that could talk.
Just before the Princess was ready to set out, her mother called her to
her, and made a little cut in her finger, and allowed three drops of
blood to fall upon a handkerchief.
“Here, my child, take this with you,” said the Queen; “put it in the
bosom of your dress, and guard it carefully. It is a charm, and as long
as you have it no evil of any kind can have power over you.”
The Princess thanked her mother, and put the handkerchief in the bosom
of her dress as she was told. Then she kissed the Queen tenderly, and
bade her farewell, and set out upon the journey with her waiting-maid
riding beside her.
Now this waiting-maid, who rode with the Princess, had a very bad
heart. She was both sly and deceitful. She pretended to the Queen that
she loved the Princess dearly, but all the while she hated and envied
her, and would have been glad enough to do her an ill turn.
She and the Princess journeyed on together for some time, and the sun
shone bright and hot and the road was dusty, so the Princess became
very thirsty. Presently they came to a stream, and there the Princess
drew rein, and said to the waiting-maid, “Light down, I pray of you,
and fill my little golden cup that I may drink, for I am thirsty.”
But the waiting-maid scowled and answered rudely, “Light down yourself,
and drink from the stream, if you are thirsty. I am tired of serving
you.”
The Princess was very much surprised at being answered in such a
manner. However, she was young and timid, and without more words she
slipped from her horse, and as she was afraid to ask for the cup, which
the waiting-maid carried, she stooped over and drank from the brook as
it rippled over its stones.