The Goose Girl

The Goose Girl There was once an old Queen who had a very beautiful daughter. The time came when the daughter was to go to a far away country to be married. The old Queen packed up everything suitable for a Princess to start her new life. The old queen sent a maid with the princess. When it was time for the princess to leave the old queen and the princess said a sad farewell and left for the bridegroom's country. After riding for a while the Princess became very thirsty, and said to her maid, "Go down and fetch me some water in my cup from the stream. I must have something to drink." "If you are thirsty," said the maid, "get down yourself, lie down by the water and drink. I don't choose to be your maid." The Princess was very thirsty so she got down off her horse and knelt by the stream. When the princess went to get back on her horse, the maid said, "your horse belongs to me; this donkey is for you!" The poor Princess had to do as she said. Then the maid meanly told the princess to take off her royal clothes, and to put on the maid’s old clothes. Then the maid forced the princess to swear that she would not tell anyone when they got to court what had happened. If the princess did not agree she would been killed right there by the terrible maid. There was a lot of happiness when they finally arrived at the castle. The Prince who was the bridegroom, ran towards them, and lifted the maid from her horse, thinking she was the princess, his bride. The maid was led into the castle, but the real Princess was left outside. The old King looked out of a window in the castle and saw the delicate, pretty princess standing in the courtyard outside so he asked the maid about her companion. The maid tells the old king that she picked up the girl on the way and I brought her with me for company. Give the girl something to do to keep her busy." The old King said, "I have a little boy who looks after the geese; she can help him." The boy was named Conrad, and the real princess went with him to look after the geese. When they reached the meadow, the real Princess sat down on the grass and let down her hair, and when Conrad saw her hair he wanted some of it; but the real princess said—"Blow, blow, little breeze, And Conrad's hat seize. Let him join in the chase While away it is whirled, Till my tresses are curled And I rest in my place." Then a strong wind came up, which blew Conrad's hat all over the field, and he had to run to catch it. When he came back the real princess’s hair was all pinned up again. When they got back to the castle Conrad went to see the King and said, "I do not want to watch the geese with that girl again" "Why not?" asked the old King. Conrad told the King what had happened in the field. The old King ordered Conrad to go out with the geese next day as usual and the old king followed them to the field and he hid behind a bush. The old king watched as the goose girl who was really the princess let down her hair and repeated what she had said the previous day. It happen exactly like Conrad had told him the night before. The old king left the field without being seen and returned to the castle and that evening, when the Goose-girl (who was the real princess) came back to the castle, the old king asked her why she did all these things in the field while watching the geese. I cannot tell you, the real princess said. Then the old king said, "If you cannot tell me, then tell the iron stove" and the old king left the room. The real princess went up to the stove and told it everything. The old King stood outside by the pipes of the stove and he listened to everything that real princess said. The old king went back into the room and had royal robes brought to the real princess and had her dressed in them. Then he called his son the prince and told him that he had a false bride, but that the true bride was here. The Prince was charmed by the real princess and a great feast was prepared to welcome her. The bridegroom sat at the head of the table, with the real Princess on one side and false princess who was the maid on the other side. The maid did not recognize the real Princess. After dinner, the old King asked a riddle to the maid. "What does a person deserve that deceives another person? The false princess who was really the maid answered, That person should be banished from the kingdom. It shall be done said the old king and proceeded to banish the maid from the kingdom". After the maid was gone, the Prince married his real bride the real princess, and they lived together in peace and happiness forever and ever. THE END!!!