And you, my flower, must droop your head
And close your eyelids, too.

Then join your little hands and pray
To God, who made the light,
To keep you holy all the day
And guard you through the night.




RUMPELSTILTZKIN

By Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm


There was once upon a time a poor miller who had a beautiful daughter.
It happened one day that he had an audience with the King, and in order
to appear important he told the King that he had a daughter who could
spin straw into gold.

"Now that's a talent worth having," said the King to the miller; "if
your daughter is as clever as you say, bring her to my palace tomorrow,
and I'll test her."

When the girl was brought to him, he led her into a room full of straw,
gave her a spinning-wheel and spindle, and said, "Now set to work and
spin all night, and if by early dawn you haven't spun the straw into
gold you shall die." Then he closed the door behind him and left her
alone inside.