The Fairies (Perrault)
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The tale of two sisters: kindness rewarded, rudeness punished
A widow lived with her two daughters, who were complete opposites in character and appearance. The elder daughter resembled her mother in both nature and looks, being disagreeable and arrogant, while the younger daughter took after her deceased father in gentleness and sweetness. The mother naturally favored the elder daughter who was so similar to herself, and treated the younger one harshly, forcing her to live in the kitchen and work from morning till night.
Among the younger daughter's many duties was drawing water twice daily from a spring half a mile away. One day, while at the spring, an old woman approached and begged for a drink. The kind girl immediately responded with courtesy, rinsing her pitcher and drawing fresh water from the cleanest part of the spring, even lifting the jug to make it easier for the old woman to drink.
The old woman was actually a fairy in disguise, testing the girl's character. Impressed by her beauty and politeness, the fairy bestowed a magical gift upon her:
You are so pretty, and so polite, that I am determined to bestow a gift upon you. This is the boon I grant you: with every word that you utter there shall fall from your mouth either a flower or a precious stone.
When the girl returned home, her mother scolded her for being late. As she apologized, roses, pearls, and diamonds fell from her mouth. Amazed by this miracle, the mother immediately decided to send her elder daughter to the spring, hoping she would receive the same gift. The elder daughter reluctantly agreed and went to the spring carrying the finest silver flagon in the house.
At the spring, the same fairy appeared, but this time disguised as a magnificently dressed princess. When she asked for a drink, the rude girl responded with contempt and arrogance, refusing to help and telling the fairy to drink directly from the spring if she wanted water. The fairy, maintaining her composure despite the girl's rudeness, pronounced a very different curse:
You are not very polite, said the fairy... Well, in return for your lack of courtesy I decree that for every word you utter a snake or a toad shall drop out of your mouth.
When the elder daughter returned home, her mother eagerly asked about her experience. As the girl spoke, vipers and toads spilled from her mouth instead of precious gems. The mother, horrified and blaming the younger daughter for this misfortune, chased after her to punish her. The kind younger daughter fled into the nearby forest to escape her mother's wrath.
In the forest, the younger daughter encountered the king's son, who was returning from a hunting expedition. Noticing her beauty and distress, he inquired about her situation. When she explained that her mother had driven her from home, pearls and diamonds continued to fall from her lips as she spoke. The prince was amazed by this magical gift and asked her to tell him the entire story.
The prince fell deeply in love with the kind girl, recognizing that her magical gift was worth more than any dowry another maiden could offer. He brought her to his father's palace and married her, ensuring her happiness and security. Meanwhile, the elder sister's cruel nature made her so unbearable that even her own mother eventually drove her away. Unable to find anyone willing to take her in, the wretched girl wandered until she finally lay down in the forest and died alone.
Moral lessons on kindness and courtesy
Perrault concluded his tale with moral lessons emphasizing that gentle words and kind behavior are more valuable than material wealth. He noted that while being kind may sometimes seem troublesome, it often brings unexpected rewards and good fortune to those who practice it consistently.
Diamonds and rubies may
Work some wonders in their way;
But a gentle word is worth
More than all the gems on earth.