There was once a girl whose father and mother died while she was still a little child. All alone, in a small house at the end of the village, dwelt her godmother, who supported herself by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the forlorn child to live with her, kept her to her work, and educated her in all that is good. When the girl was fifteen years old, the old woman became ill, called the child to her bedside, and said, "Dear daughter, I feel my end drawing near. I leave thee the little house, which will protect thee from wind and weather, and my spindle, shuttle, and needle, with which thou canst earn thy bread." Then she laid her hands on the girl's head, blessed her, and said, "Only preserve the love of God in thy heart, and all will go well with thee." Thereupon she closed her eyes, and when she was laid in the earth, the maiden followed the coffin, weeping bitterly, and paid her the last mark of respect. And now the maiden lived quite alone in the little house, and was industrious, and span, wove, and sewed, and the blessing of the good old woman was on all that she did. It seemed as if the flax in the room increased of its own accord, and whenever she wove a piece of cloth or carpet, or had made a shirt, she at once found a buyer who paid her amply for it, so that she was in want of nothing, and even had something to share with others.
About this time, the son of the King was travelling about the country looking for a bride. He was not to choose a poor one, and did not want to have a rich one. So he said, "She shall be my wife who is the poorest, and at the same time the richest." When he came to the village where the maiden dwelt, he inquired, as he did wherever he went, who was the richest and also the poorest girl in the place? They first named the richest; the poorest, they said, was the girl who lived in the small house quite at the end of the village. The rich girl was sitting in all her splendour before the door of her house, and when the prince approached her, she got up, went to meet him, and made him a low curtsey. He looked at her, said nothing, and rode on. When he came to the house of the poor girl, she was not standing at the door, but sitting in her little room. He stopped his horse, and saw through the window, on which the bright sun was shining, the girl sitting at her spinning-wheel, busily spinning. She looked up, and when she saw that the prince was looking in, she blushed all over her face, let her eyes fall, and went on spinning. I do not know whether, just at that moment, the thread was quite even; but she went on spinning until the King's son had ridden away again. Then she went to the window, opened it, and said, "It is so warm in this room!" but she still looked after him as long as she could distinguish the white feathers in his hat. Then she sat down to work again in her own room and went on with her spinning, and a saying which the old woman had often repeated when she was sitting at her work, came into her mind, and she sang these words to herself, --
About this time, the son of the King was travelling about the country looking for a bride. He was not to choose a poor one, and did not want to have a rich one. So he said, "She shall be my wife who is the poorest, and at the same time the richest." When he came to the village where the maiden dwelt, he inquired, as he did wherever he went, who was the richest and also the poorest girl in the place? They first named the richest; the poorest, they said, was the girl who lived in the small house quite at the end of the village. The rich girl was sitting in all her splendour before the door of her house, and when the prince approached her, she got up, went to meet him, and made him a low curtsey. He looked at her, said nothing, and rode on. When he came to the house of the poor girl, she was not standing at the door, but sitting in her little room. He stopped his horse, and saw through the window, on which the bright sun was shining, the girl sitting at her spinning-wheel, busily spinning. She looked up, and when she saw that the prince was looking in, she blushed all over her face, let her eyes fall, and went on spinning. I do not know whether, just at that moment, the thread was quite even; but she went on spinning until the King's son had ridden away again. Then she went to the window, opened it, and said, "It is so warm in this room!" but she still looked after him as long as she could distinguish the white feathers in his hat. Then she sat down to work again in her own room and went on with her spinning, and a saying which the old woman had often repeated when she was sitting at her work, came into her mind, and she sang these words to herself, --
"Spindle, my spindle, haste, haste thee away,
And here to my house bring the wooer, I pray."
And what do you think happened? The spindle sprang out of her hand in an instant, and out of the door, and when, in her astonishment, she got up and looked after it, she saw that it was dancing out merrily into the open country, and drawing a shining golden thread after it. Before long, it had entirely vanished from her sight. As she had now no spindle, the girl took the weaver's shuttle in her hand, sat down to her loom, and began to weave.
The spindle, however, danced continually onwards, and just as the thread came to an end, reached the prince. "What do I see?" he cried; "the spindle certainly wants to show me the way!" turned his horse about, and rode back with the golden thread. The girl was, however, sitting at her work singing,
And here to my house bring the wooer, I pray."
And what do you think happened? The spindle sprang out of her hand in an instant, and out of the door, and when, in her astonishment, she got up and looked after it, she saw that it was dancing out merrily into the open country, and drawing a shining golden thread after it. Before long, it had entirely vanished from her sight. As she had now no spindle, the girl took the weaver's shuttle in her hand, sat down to her loom, and began to weave.
The spindle, however, danced continually onwards, and just as the thread came to an end, reached the prince. "What do I see?" he cried; "the spindle certainly wants to show me the way!" turned his horse about, and rode back with the golden thread. The girl was, however, sitting at her work singing,
"Shuttle, my shuttle, weave well this day,
And guide the wooer to me, I pray."
Immediately the shuttle sprang out of her hand and out by the door. Before the threshold, however, it began to weave a carpet which was more beautiful than the eyes of man had ever yet beheld. Lilies and roses blossomed on both sides of it, and on a golden ground in the centre green branches ascended, under which bounded hares and rabbits, stags and deer stretched their heads in between them, brightly-coloured birds were sitting in the branches above; they lacked nothing but the gift of song. The shuttle leapt hither and thither, and everything seemed to grow of its own accord.
As the shuttle had run away, the girl sat down to sew. She held the needle in her hand and sang,
And guide the wooer to me, I pray."
Immediately the shuttle sprang out of her hand and out by the door. Before the threshold, however, it began to weave a carpet which was more beautiful than the eyes of man had ever yet beheld. Lilies and roses blossomed on both sides of it, and on a golden ground in the centre green branches ascended, under which bounded hares and rabbits, stags and deer stretched their heads in between them, brightly-coloured birds were sitting in the branches above; they lacked nothing but the gift of song. The shuttle leapt hither and thither, and everything seemed to grow of its own accord.
As the shuttle had run away, the girl sat down to sew. She held the needle in her hand and sang,
"Needle, my needle, sharp-pointed and fine,
Prepare for a wooer this house of mine."
Then the needle leapt out of her fingers, and flew everywhere about the room as quick as lightning. It was just as if invisible spirits were working; they covered tables and benches with green cloth in an instant, and the chairs with velvet, and hung the windows with silken curtains. Hardly had the needle put in the last stitch than the maiden saw through the window the white feathers of the prince, whom the spindle had brought thither by the golden thread. He alighted, stepped over the carpet into the house, and when he entered the room, there stood the maiden in her poor garments, but she shone out from within them like a rose surrounded by leaves. "Thou art the poorest and also the richest," said he to her. "Come with me, thou shalt be my bride." She did not speak, but she gave him her hand. Then he gave her a kiss, led her forth, lifted her on to his horse, and took her to the royal castle, where the wedding was solemnized with great rejoicings. The spindle, shuttle, and needle were preserved in the treasure-chamber, and held in great honour.
Prepare for a wooer this house of mine."
Then the needle leapt out of her fingers, and flew everywhere about the room as quick as lightning. It was just as if invisible spirits were working; they covered tables and benches with green cloth in an instant, and the chairs with velvet, and hung the windows with silken curtains. Hardly had the needle put in the last stitch than the maiden saw through the window the white feathers of the prince, whom the spindle had brought thither by the golden thread. He alighted, stepped over the carpet into the house, and when he entered the room, there stood the maiden in her poor garments, but she shone out from within them like a rose surrounded by leaves. "Thou art the poorest and also the richest," said he to her. "Come with me, thou shalt be my bride." She did not speak, but she gave him her hand. Then he gave her a kiss, led her forth, lifted her on to his horse, and took her to the royal castle, where the wedding was solemnized with great rejoicings. The spindle, shuttle, and needle were preserved in the treasure-chamber, and held in great honour.
C'era una volta una ragazza, orfana di entrambi i genitori sin dalla tenera età. La sua madrina viveva tutta sola in una piccola casetta ai confini del villaggio, e per vivere faceva la tessitrice, la filatrice, e la cucitrice; la vecchia prese l'orfanella a servizio e la crebbe caritatevolmente. Quando la fanciulla ebbe quindici anni, la madrina si ammalò; allora chiamò a sé la ragazza e le disse: "Mia cara figliola, sento che la mia fine è vicina; ti lascio questa mia casetta che ti proteggerà da venti e dal maltempo. Ti lascio, inoltre, un fuso, una spola, e un ago. Con questi potrai guadagnarti da vivere." Così dicendo, pose le mani sul capo della fanciulla, e la benedisse: "Porta sempre il Signore nel tuo cuore, e vedrai che tutto andrà bene." E chiuse gli occhi. Quando la seppellirono nella terra per darle l'eterno riposo, la ragazza comparì davanti alla bara piangendo e porgendole i più rispettosi omaggi. La fanciulla viveva ora tutta sola in quella piccola casa; era assai operosa: tutto il giorno puliva, rassettava, cuciva e tesseva, e tutto quello che faceva era benedetto dalla buona vecchia. Sembrava che il lino nella sua cucina si moltiplicasse, e, ogni volta che tesseva un tappeto, o della stoffa, o cuciva una camicia, ecco che subito si presentava un compratore che pagava lautamente il suo lavoro; in questo modo non si trovò mai in difficoltà e avanzava sempre qualcosa da spartire con gli altri.
In quel periodo, il figlio del re si trovava di passaggio per le terre del regno, in cerca di una moglie; non la voleva né povera, né ricca. Diceva: "Mia moglie dovrà essere nel contempo, sia la più povera, che la più ricca." Quando giunse in quel villaggio, domandò, come al solito, chi fosse la più ricca e allo stesso tempo la più povera. Subito gli citarono la ragazza più benestante, e poi dissero che la fanciulla più povera era senz'altro quella che viveva in quella casetta ai limiti del paese. La ragazza ricca sedeva all'entrata, tutta agghindata, e quando il principe si avvicinò, ella gli fece un inchino; lui non le disse neanche una parola, e cavalcò via. Quando giunse davanti alla porta della casetta, non la trovò sull'uscio, perché invece stava seduta nella sua cucinetta; il figlio del re fermò il cavallo e guardò dentro alla finestra, sulla quale brillava un sole luminoso, e in quel mentre vide la ragazza, seduta composta al filatoio a filare diligentemente. Alzò lo sguardo, e quando si vide spiata dal giovane, subito arrossì imbarazzata, chiuse gli occhi, e continuò a filare. Non so se il filo questa volta fosse uscito proprio tutto uguale, ma lei continuò a filare fino a quando il principe se ne fu andato. Allora, si diresse alla finestra e l'aprì, dicendo: "Fa così caldo in cucina," e facendo finta di niente, continuò a seguirlo furtivamente con lo sguardo fino a quando riuscì a scorgere le piume bianche del cappello di lui. La fanciulla tornò poi a sedersi al filatoio e continuò il suo lavoro, finché improvvisamente rammentò certe parole che la vecchia madrina recitava talvolta mentre lavorava, e prese a canticchiarla:
Fuso, fuso, sù, fai in fretta
e porta un pretendente
a 'sta casetta.
e porta un pretendente
a 'sta casetta.
Sapete che successe? Il fuso le scivolò dalle mani e sgattaiolò fuori di casa; stupefatta, la ragazza balzò in piedi e lo vide danzare festosamente tra i campi, mentre lasciava svolgere un bellissimo filo d'oro tutto scintillante, e in un battibaleno sparì dalla sua vista. Così, dal momento in cui si ritrovò senza il fuso, prese la spola, si sedette al telaio' e cominciò a tessere.
Intanto, il fuso continuò incessantemente la sua danza, e quando il filo raggiunse il fondo, ecco che comparve giusto giusto davanti al principe, il quale esclamò: "E quello cos'è? Sembra un fuso.. Possibile che mi stia indicando la strada?" Voltò il cavallo e cominciò e andò dietro al filo d'oro. Intanto, la fanciulla continuava il suo lavoro cantando:
Spola, spola, tessi per me una tela divina
e porta un pretendente alla mia casina.
e porta un pretendente alla mia casina.
Così dicendo, anche la spola le fuggì di mano e sgattaiolò all'uscita della casetta, e lì, cominciò a tessere il più bel tappeto che si fosse mai visto al mondo: ai lati fiorivano rose e gigli; nel mezzo, su un sfondo d'oro, c'erano file di prato verde su cui saltellavano lepri e conigli, ed, inoltre, tanti cervi a fare capolino. E, in alto, posatisi sui rami, tanti incantevoli uccelli dalle ali variopinte; mancava solo il loro dolce canto. La spola, intanto, continuava a saltare avanti e indietro, e tutto si animava intorno ad essa.
Dopo che anche la spola se ne fu scappata via, alla fanciulla non restò che un ago. Decise allora di mettersi a cucire, e cucendo cantava:
Ago, ago, appuntito e sottile,
Rassetta la casa, che il mio ospite sta per venire.
Rassetta la casa, che il mio ospite sta per venire.
Allora l'ago le schizzò dalle dita e volò su e giù per la cucina più velocemente di un fulmine: era come se ci fossero dei folletti invisibili a dirigere le operazioni, e in brevissimo tempo la tavola e le panche furono rivestite da un bel tessuto verde, le sedie furono ricoperte di velluto puro, e alle finestre furono appese delle tendine di seta. L'ago aveva appena cucito il suo ultimo punto, quando la fanciulla vide dalla finestra le piume bianche del berretto del principe, che era stato condotto lì dal filo d'oro del fuso. Smontò da cavallo e si diresse verso l'entrata, passando per il tappeto, ed entrò in casa; quando fu in cucina, trovò la fanciulla vestita di un semplice abito, e pur così bella da risplendere come una rosa di maggio. "Tu sei la più povera, ma anche la più ricca" le disse, "vieni con me, e sarai la mia sposa." Ella taceva, ma allungò una mano verso di lui; poi, il principe le diede un bacio e la condusse fuori, la fece montare sul suo cavallo, e la condusse al palazzo reale dove ebbero luogo le nozze che furono celebrate con grande giubilo. E da quel giorno in poi il fuso, la spola, e l'ago furono custoditi nella sala del tesoro, e conservati con tutti gli onori.