A bad-tempered widow had two daughters. The eldest was like her
mother, both in feature and disposition, while the youngest resembled
her father. She was sweet-natured always, and as pretty as she was
amiable.
The widow doted on the daughter who was so like herself, but had no
love for the other, whom she compelled to work hard all day, and
to live upon the leavings of her elder sister. Among her other hard
tasks, she was obliged to carry water every day from a great distance.
One day when she had just filled her pitcher at the fountain, an old
woman asked to drink from it. "With all my heart," replied the pretty
girl. Glad to show a kindness to one old and infirm, she held the
pitcher while the woman slaked her thirst.
Now, this was not a trembling old peasant, as she appeared, but a
fairy who rewarded good deeds. "Your face is pretty and your heart is
gentle," said she. "For your kindness to a poor old woman, I will make
you a gift. Every time you speak, from your mouth shall come a flower
or a jewel."
When the girl reached home her mother scolded her for her long
absence. "Pardon me for being away so long," she sweetly replied. As
she spoke some pearls and diamonds issued from her lips.
"What is this I see, child?" asked the astonished widow.
The forlorn girl was so happy to be called child by her mother that
she eagerly related her experience with the old woman at the fountain,
while, with her words, dropped precious stones and roses. The widow
immediately called her favorite daughter to her.
"Fanny, wouldst thou have the same gift as thy sister?" asked she. "Go
thou to the fountain and fetch water. And if an old woman asks thee
for a drink, mind thou treat her civilly."
The girl refused to perform the menial task, until the widow lost
patience and drove her to it. Finally, she took the silver tankard and
sullenly obeyed. No sooner was she at the fountain than from the wood
came a lady most handsomely attired, who asked the haughty girl for a
drink from her pitcher.
"I have not come here to serve you," she rudely replied, "but take the
pitcher and help yourself, for all I care. I would have you know that
I am as good as you."
The lady was the fairy, who had taken the appearance of a princess to
see how far the girl's insolence would go. "I will make you a gift,"
she said, "to equal your discourtesy and ill breeding. Every time you
speak, there shall come from your mouth a snake or a toad."
The girl ran home to her mother, who met her at the door. "Well,
daughter," she said, impatient to hear her speak. When she opened her
mouth, to the mother's horror, two vipers and two toads sprang from
it. "This is the fault of your wretched sister," the unhappy mother
cried. She ran to beat the poor younger sister, who fled to the
forest to escape the cruel blows. When she was past pursuit, she threw
herself upon the green grass and wept bitterly.
The King's son, returning from the hunt, found her thus, and asked the
cause of her tears.
"My mother has driven me from my home," she told him. She was so
pretty that he fell in love with her at once, and pressed her to tell
him more. She then related to him the whole story, while pearls and
diamonds kept falling from her lips. Enraptured, he took her to the
King, who gave his consent to their immediate marriage.
Meanwhile the ugly and selfish sister had made herself so disagreeable
that even her own mother turned against her. She, too, was driven
forth into the forest, where she died miserable and alone.
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