The Goose Girl(Part1)

Once upon a time, there was an old queen whose husband had passed away many years ago, and she had a very beautiful daughter. When the girl came of age, she was betrothed to a prince from a distant land.

The day of the wedding arrived, and the girl had to travel to that country. The old queen loved her dearly and filled her trunk with precious items, gold and jewels, golden goblets, and everything that constitutes a royal dowry. She also sent a maidservant along with her to deliver everything to the prince and entrusted her with the dowry. A noble horse was given to each of them, but the princess’s horse, named Falada, could speak. 

When it was time to say goodbye, the mother went to her bedroom, picked up a knife, and pricked her finger so that blood flowed. She then held a white handkerchief under it, let three drops of blood fall onto it, and gave it to her daughter saying, “Dear daughter, keep this handkerchief safe; you will need it on this journey.”

Then, with great sorrow, they bid each other farewell. The princess hid the handkerchief under her bodice, mounted her horse, and set off on the road to her fiancé's land. After a while of riding, the princess became very thirsty and said to the maidservant, “Get down and bring me some water from that spring with the golden cup, for I am very thirsty.” The maidservant replied, “If you are so thirsty, you can dismount, go to the spring, and drink. I am not your servant.” 

The princess was so thirsty that she dismounted and went to the spring. Without using the golden goblet, she bent down and drank from the spring. Then she exclaimed, “Oh, great God!” But the three drops of blood spoke out and said, “If your mother knew about this event, her heart would break into a thousand pieces.” However, the princess, being a humble girl, said nothing and mounted her horse once again. 

They rode a few more miles. It was a hot day, and the sun was shining. It wasn't long before the princess became thirsty again, and when they were passing beside a river, she again said to her maidservant, “Dismount and bring me some water in the golden cup.” For she had quickly forgotten the maidservant’s spiteful words. But the maidservant again replied with even more arrogance and pride, “If you are thirsty, you can drink water yourself; I am no longer your servant.” 

Then the princess dismounted, and from her thirst laid down beside the stream and wept bitterly, saying, “Oh, great God!” The three drops of blood spoke once again and repeated the words: “If your mother knew about this event, her heart would break into a thousand pieces.”

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