The Fairies

Once upon a time, there was a widowThere was, once upon a time, a widow, who had two daughters. The eldest was so like her mother in looks and temper that whoever looked atmuch like her in the face and humour, that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother. They were both so disagreeable and so proud that no one could livedisagreeable, and so proud, that there was no living with them. The youngest was the very picture of her father in courtesy and sweetness of temper. She was alsoyoungest, who was the very picture of her father, for courtesy and sweetness of temper, was withal one of the most beautiful girls ever seen. As people naturally love those who resemble themtheir own likeness, this mother adored her eldest daughter and could not standeven 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 fromabove 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 athere 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 easilythis 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, sheThe good woman having drank, said to her:

"You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so politemannerly, 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 mannerssee 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 mouththat 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  at her for staying so long at the fountain.

"I beg your pardon, mamma," said the poor girl, "for not hurrying back." As she spoke these words, two roses, two pearls and two diamonds came out of her mouth.for 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 astonished mother.mother quite astonished, "I think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl's mouth! How does this happenhappens 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 spokefrankly 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’sthither. 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 politelythee 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 fetchdraw 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, a drinking cup with a handle,tankard in the house.

She had barely reached the fountain whenwas no sooner at the fountain, than she saw coming out of the wood a splendidly dressed lady who came up and asked for alady 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 clothesthe 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 girlsaucy slut, "to fetch you water, thenserve 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 ithave a fancy."

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

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

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

"O mercy!" cried the mother, "what do I see? Oh, that wretched sister of hers has caused all this! But she shall pay for it!" Immediately the mother ran to beat the younger girl.is it I see! O, it is that wretch her sister who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it"; and immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled from her and hid in the nearby forest.away from her and went to hide herself in the forest, not far from thence.

The King’s son met her as he returned from hunting. Seeing how very pretty she was, he asked what she was doing there alone and why she was crying.King's son, then on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very pretty, asked her what 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 saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds come out of her mouth. He asked herKing's son, who saw five or six pearls, and as many diamonds, come out of her mouth, desired 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, a wedding gift of money or property, that another bride could bring. He took her to his father’s palace and married her therethereupon 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 thereturned 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 still, we find,
Stamp strong impressions on the mind.
But kindly speech still greatersweet discourse more potent riches yields;
Of higher value is the powerpow'r it wields.

Another

Polite behaviour does indeed takeCivil behaviour costs indeed some pains,
And calls for just a little kindly care;Requires of complaisance some little share;
But soon or late its due reward it gains,
And meets it often when we're not aware.