Bythesideof a wood, in a country a longwayoff, ran a finestreamofwater; anduponthestreamtherestood a mill. Themiller's housewascloseby, andthemiller, youmustknow, had a verybeautifuldaughter. Shewas, moreover, veryshrewdandclever; andthemillerwassoproudofher, thatheonedaytoldthekingoftheland, whousedtocomeandhuntinthewood, thathisdaughtercouldspingoldoutofstraw. Nowthiskingwasveryfondofmoney; andwhenheheardthemiller's boasthisgreedinesswasraised, andhesentforthegirltobebroughtbeforehim. Thenheledherto a chamberinhispalacewheretherewas a greatheapofstraw, andgaveher a spinning-wheel, andsaid, 'Allthismustbespunintogoldbeforemorning, asyouloveyourlife.' Itwasinvainthatthepoormaidensaidthatitwasonly a sillyboastofherfather, forthatshecoulddonosuchthingasspinstrawintogold: thechamberdoorwaslocked, andshewasleftalone.
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Shesatdowninonecorneroftheroom, andbegantobewailherhardfate; whenon a suddenthedooropened, and a droll-lookinglittlemanhobbledin, andsaid, 'Goodmorrowtoyou, mygoodlass; whatareyouweepingfor?' 'Alas!' saidshe, 'I mustspinthisstrawintogold, and I knownothow.' 'Whatwillyougiveme,' saidthehobgoblin, 'todoitforyou?' 'Mynecklace,' repliedthemaiden. Hetookheratherword, andsathimselfdowntothewheel, andwhistledandsang:
Thethirddayoneofthemessengerscameback, andsaid, 'I havetravelledtwodayswithouthearingofanyothernames; butyesterday, as I wasclimbing a highhill, amongthetreesoftheforestwherethefoxandtheharebideachothergoodnight, I saw a littlehut; andbeforethehutburnt a fire; androundaboutthefire a funnylittledwarfwasdancingupononeleg, andsinging: