Rumpelstiltskin The Story

The maid, who had thought that she was safe, was even more upset at this turn of events. As she burst into tears, the strange little man again appeared, demanding to know what was the matter this time. The young woman showed him the pile of straw and again pleaded for his help.

Once he pocketed his payment -- this time, the maid's golden necklace -- the little man again worked his magic. As the maid slept, he spun, and spun, and spun. Eventually, just as before, all of the straw was transformed into gold.

The next morning, the king and queen were gratified to find another shining pile of gold. But they still weren't satisfied, so they ordered that all of the straw left in the kingdom should be collected. In the end, bales upon bales of straw filled the maid's room, to be spun into gold by morning -- or the young woman would lose her life.

The young woman did her best to remember what the little man had done with the straw. But try as she might, she could not figure out how he worked his magic. Out of fear and anger, she finally burst into tears.

The little man instantly appeared, more annoyed than ever. The maid again explained her plight, and tearfully begged for his help. But she had nothing else to give him, for the ring and the necklace had been her most valuable possessions. Then the little man proposed a suitable price: her firstborn child by the prince.

At first, the maid did not want to agree; she felt that she could never give up one of her own children. But, she then thought to herself, a poor miller's maid could never become princess. Convinced that she would never actually have to follow through on her part of the bargain, she gave her word.

Once again, the miller's maid fell into the magic sleep. Once again, the little man did his work; and once again, all of the straw was transformed into gold. The next morning, however, it was neither the king nor the queen who greeted the young woman -- it was their son, the prince.

A brave but sad young man, the prince was very unlike his parents. Not satisfied with gazing at the royal treasures all day, he spent most of his time wandering around the castle. On this particular morning, he stumbled across the maid's room and, hearing someone inside, unlocked the door and entered.

The prince was astounded to find a lovely young woman inside. He sharply scolded the king and queen for keeping him prisoner, and made them give away their gold to the kingdom's poor. As for the maid, she and the prince had fallen in love at first sight, and married shortly thereafter.

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