By the side of a wood, in a country a long way off, ran a fine streamof water; and upon the stream there stood a mill. The miller’s housewas close by, and the miller, you must know, had a very beautifuldaughter. She was, moreover, very shrewd and clever; and the miller wasso proud of her, that he one day told the king of the land, who used tocome and hunt in the wood, that his daughter could spin gold out ofstraw. Now this king was very fond of money; and when he heardthe miller’s boast his greediness was raised, and he sent for thegirl to be brought before him. Then he led her to a chamber in hispalace where there was a great heap of straw, and gave her aspinning-wheel, and said, «All this must be spun into gold beforemorning, as you love your life.» It was in vain that the poor maidensaid that it was only a silly boast of her father, for that she coulddo no such thing as spin straw into gold: the chamber door was locked,and she was left alone.
She sat down in one corner of the room, and began to bewail her hardfate; when on a sudden the door opened, and a droll-looking little manhobbled in, and said, «Good morrow to you, my good lass; what areyou weeping for?» «Alas!» said she, «I must spin this straw into gold,and I know not how.» «What will you give me,» said the hobgoblin, «todo it for you?» «My necklace,» replied the maiden. He took her at herword, and sat himself down to the wheel, and whistled and sang:
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