The Fairy

There was, once upon a time, a widow, who had two daughters. The eldest was so much like her in looks and temperin the face and humour, that whoever looked atlooked upon the daughter saw the mother. They were both so disagreeable, and so proud, that there was no living with them. The youngest, who was the very picture of her father, for courtesy and sweetness of temper, was alsowas withal one of the most beautiful girls ever seen. As people naturally love their own likeness, this mother adored her eldest daughter and could not stand the youngestthis mother even doated on her eldest daughter, and at the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest. She made her eat in the kitchen, and work continually.

Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to draw water more than a mile and a half from the houseabove a mile and a half off the house, and bring home a pitcher full of it. One day, as she was at this fountain, a poor woman came up and begged her for a drinkthere came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to let her drink.

"Oh yes, with all my heart, good womanO ay, with all my heart, Goody," said the pretty girl. She immediately rinsed the pitcher, filled it from the clearest part of the fountain, and gave it to her. She held it up all the while so the woman could drink more easily.said this pretty maid; and rinsing immediately the pitcher, she took up some water from the clearest place of the fountain, and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all the while, that she might drink the easier.

After the good woman had drunk, she said to her:The good woman having drank, said to her:

"You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so politeso mannerly, that I cannot help giving you a gift" (for this was a Fairy, who had taken the form of a poor country-woman, to test the pretty girl’s kindness and good mannersto see how far the civility and good manners of this pretty girl would go). "This is my gift to youI will give you for gift," continued the Fairy, "with every word you speak, either a flower or a jewel will come out of your mouth.that at every word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either a flower, or a jewel."

When this pretty girl came home, her mother scolded herscolded at her for staying so long at the fountain.

"I beg your pardon, mamma," said the poor girl, "for not hurrying backfor not making more haste," and, in speaking these words, there came out of her mouth two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds.

"What is this I see?" said her mother quite astonished, "I think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl's mouth! How does this happen, child?How happens this, child?" (This was the first time she ever called her child.)

The poor creature told her the whole story openly, dropping countless diamonds from her mouth as she spoketold her frankly all the matter, not without dropping out infinite numbers of diamonds.

"Well, indeedIn good faith," cried the mother, "I must send my child there. Come here, Fanny, look what comes out of your sister’s mouth when she speaks!I must send my child thither. Come hither, Fanny, look what comes out of thy sister's mouth when she speaks! Wouldn’t you like the same gift, my dear? All you have to do isWould'st not thou be glad, my dear, to have the same gift given to thee? Thou hast nothing else to do but go and draw water out of the fountain, and when a certain poor woman asks you for a drink, give it to her very politelyasks thee to let her drink, to give it her very civilly."

"It would be a very fine sight indeed," said this rude girlill-bred minx, "to see me go and fetch watergo draw water!"

"You shall go, shameless girlhussey," said the mother, "and this minute."

So away she went, but grumbling all the way, taking with her the best silver tankard in the house.

She had barely reached the fountain whenShe was no sooner at the fountain, than she saw coming out of the wood a lady most gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to drink. This was, you must know, the very Fairy who appeared to her sister, but had now taken on the appearance and clothes of a princesstaken the air and dress of a princess, to see how far this girl's rudeness would go.

"Have I come hereAm I come hither," said the proud, insolent girlthe proud, saucy slut, "to serve you with water, pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely for your ladyship, was it? However, you may drink out of it, if you feel like itif you have a fancy."

"You are not very politenot over and above mannerly," answered the Fairy, without losing her temperwithout putting herself in a passion. "Well then, since you are so rude and unhelpful, this is my gift to you:since you have so little breeding, and are so disobliging, I give you for gift, that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad."

As soon asSo soon as her mother saw her coming, she cried out: "Well, daughter?"

"Well, mother?" answered the cheeky girlthe pert hussey, throwing out of her mouth two vipers and two toads.

"O mercy!" cried the mother, "what is it I see! O, it is that wretch her sister who has caused all thishas occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it"; and immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her and went to hide herself in the forest, not far awaynot far from thence.

The King's son, who was returning from huntingthen on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very pretty, asked her what she was doing there alone and why she was cryingwhat she did there alone, and why she cried.

"Alas! sir, my mamma has thrown me out of the houseturned me out of doors."

The King's son, who saw five or six pearls, and as many diamonds, come out of her mouth, asked her to tell himdesired her to tell him how that happened. She then told him the whole story, and the King’s son fell in love with her. He thought her gift was worth more than any dowry another bride could bring. He took her to his father’s palace and married her there.She thereupon told him the whole story; and so the King's son fell in love with her; and, considering with himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage-portion whatsoever in another, conducted her to the palace of the King his father, and there married her.

As for her sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother threw her out. The miserable girl wandered for a long time without finding anyone to take her in. She went to a corner of the wood and died there.turned her off; and the miserable wretch, having wandered about a good while without finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner in the wood and there died.

The Moral

Money and jewels make a strong impression,
as we know.
But kind words bring greater riches:
their power is worth still more.Money and jewels still, we find,
Stamp strong impressions on the mind.
But sweet discourse more potent riches yields;
Of higher value is the pow'r it wields.

Another

Good manners take some effort
and a little willingness to please.
But sooner or later they receive their reward,
often when we least expect it.Civil behaviour costs indeed some pains,
Requires of complaisance some little share;
But soon or late its due reward it gains,
And meets it often when we're not aware.