Something Old
“Caro, I’m going to tell you a story about a king who almost lost his queen because he lost sight of why he fell in love," said Eleanor.
“Caro, I’m going to tell you a story about a king who almost lost his queen because he lost sight of why he fell in love," said Eleanor.
"If you think it will help, then go ahead, Nana," Caroline replied expectantly.
"If you think it will help, then go ahead, Nana," Caroline replied expectantly.
A long time ago, there was a peasant who was so poor he did not even have land to cultivate, but he did have a clever daughter. His daughter entreated him to ask the king for a plot of land to make his living. The king was generous and granted the peasant some farmland near his home.
A long time ago, there was a peasant who was so poor he did not even have land to cultivate, but he did have a clever daughter. His daughter entreated him to ask the king for a plot of land to make his living. The king was generous and granted the peasant some farmland near his home.
The peasant and his daughter were tending to the field when they discovered a solid gold mortar and pestle. Thinking he should honor the king, the peasant wanted to give the mortar to him as a thank you. His daughter warned him against this plan, knowing the king would want the pestle if he was given the mortar.
The peasant and his daughter were tending to the field when they discovered a solid gold mortar and pestle. Thinking he should honor the king, the peasant wanted to give the mortar to him as a thank you. His daughter warned him against this plan, knowing the king would want the pestle if he was given the mortar.
Foolishly, the peasant ignored his daughter and gifted the king the golden mortar. As his daughter predicted, the king threw him into the dungeon until he could produce the matching golden pestle. In his cell, the peasant lamented not listening to his daughter. The king overheard the peasant and asked him what he meant about his daughter. The peasant told the king about his clever daughter who had warned him this would happen. Intrigued, the king decided to test the daughter’s cleverness himself. He told the peasant if she could come to him not clothed but not naked, not riding but not walking, and not on the road but not off the road he would let the peasant go.
Foolishly, the peasant ignored his daughter and gifted the king the golden mortar. As his daughter predicted, the king threw him into the dungeon until he could produce the matching golden pestle. In his cell, the peasant lamented not listening to his daughter. The king overheard the peasant and asked him what he meant about his daughter. The peasant told the king about his clever daughter who had warned him this would happen. Intrigued, the king decided to test the daughter’s cleverness himself. He told the peasant if she could come to him not clothed but not naked, not riding but not walking, and not on the road but not off the road he would let the peasant go.
The peasant went home and told his daughter of the king’s riddle. The daughter wrapped herself in a fishnet, so she was neither naked nor clothed. She then tied the net to a horse’s tail with one toe touching the road. In this way she wasn’t walking or riding and wasn’t on the road or off the road. In this fashion she went to the king. The king, delighted by her cleverness, fell in love with her on the spot and asked her to marry him. She accepted and the two lived prosperously and happily for many years.
The peasant went home and told his daughter of the king’s riddle. The daughter wrapped herself in a fishnet, so she was neither naked nor clothed. She then tied the net to a horse’s tail with one toe touching the road. In this way she wasn’t walking or riding and wasn’t on the road or off the road. In this fashion she went to the king. The king, delighted by her cleverness, fell in love with her on the spot and asked her to marry him. She accepted and the two lived prosperously and happily for many years.
One day, two peasants came to the king with a dispute. One peasant’s foal had been found in with the other peasant’s oxen. The peasant who found the foal with his oxen claimed that the foal should be his since he found it. The other peasant claimed the foal came from his horses and was his. The king decided the foal should stay where it was found and should be given to the peasant with the oxen. The peasant who rightfully owned the foal was upset and went to the queen in hopes she would reverse the decision.
One day, two peasants came to the king with a dispute. One peasant’s foal had been found in with the other peasant’s oxen. The peasant who found the foal with his oxen claimed that the foal should be his since he found it. The other peasant claimed the foal came from his horses and was his. The king decided the foal should stay where it was found and should be given to the peasant with the oxen. The peasant who rightfully owned the foal was upset and went to the queen in hopes she would reverse the decision.
The queen told the peasant to put a net on the ground and pretend to fish. When the king saw this, he asked the peasant what he was doing. The peasant simply responded that he was fishing. The king asked him how he could fish without any water. The peasant responded he can fish without water the same way an ox can have a foal. The king immediately recognized this cleverness as belonging to his wife. Enraged at his wife for going behind his back, he went home and denounced their marriage. He demanded that she leave the palace and could only take one thing with her.
The queen told the peasant to put a net on the ground and pretend to fish. When the king saw this, he asked the peasant what he was doing. The peasant simply responded that he was fishing. The king asked him how he could fish without any water. The peasant responded he can fish without water the same way an ox can have a foal. The king immediately recognized this cleverness as belonging to his wife. Enraged at his wife for going behind his back, he went home and denounced their marriage. He demanded that she leave the palace and could only take one thing with her.
Upset, the queen went to her room to contemplate this demand. Deciding to remind the king why he fell in love with her in the first place, she hatched a plan. That night at dinner she drugged the king’s wine. Then while he was sleeping, she wrapped him in her quilt and carried him back to her father's home. When he woke up the king realized his wife was saying he was the most important thing in the palace to her. In that moment, he remembered that it was her cleverness he had always loved and appreciated and regretted his rash demands. From that day on the two lived happily and prosperously together.
Upset, the queen went to her room to contemplate this demand. Deciding to remind the king why he fell in love with her in the first place, she hatched a plan. That night at dinner she drugged the king’s wine. Then while he was sleeping, she wrapped him in her quilt and carried him back to her father's home. When he woke up the king realized his wife was saying he was the most important thing in the palace to her. In that moment, he remembered that it was her cleverness he had always loved and appreciated and regretted his rash demands. From that day on the two lived happily and prosperously together.
"The lesson here, Caro,” said Eleanor, “is that it’s important to remember what it is you love about your fiancé. You know what made you fall in love with Michael in the first place. Just hold on to that. And here’s a little something old to help you remember.”
"The lesson here, Caro,” said Eleanor, “is that it’s important to remember what it is you love about your fiancé. You know what made you fall in love with Michael in the first place. Just hold on to that. And here’s a little something old to help you remember.”
Eleanor handed Caroline a small faded quilt patch to use as a handkerchief during the ceremony.
Eleanor handed Caroline a small faded quilt patch to use as a handkerchief during the ceremony.
“Nana, your old quilt? You shouldn’t have,” said Caroline.
“Nana, your old quilt? You shouldn’t have,” said Caroline.
“I think you need it more than me, Caro. Just remember what I said. I think your sister wanted to speak with you,” Eleanor replied as she left the room.
“I think you need it more than me, Caro. Just remember what I said. I think your sister wanted to speak with you,” Eleanor replied as she left the room.
Sitting in front of the mirror and fidgeting with the quilt square, Caroline thought about Michael. She remembered when they first fell in love. The way he always knew how to maker her laugh and feel secure. The way he appreciated her ambition and always supported her through her long hours at the law firm.
Sitting in front of the mirror and fidgeting with the quilt square, Caroline thought about Michael. She remembered when they first fell in love. The way he always knew how to maker her laugh and feel secure. The way he appreciated her ambition and always supported her through her long hours at the law firm.
Another soft knock sounded at the door, interrupting her thoughts.
Another soft knock sounded at the door, interrupting her thoughts.
Author’s Note: I based this story on an old Grimm Fairy Tale, The Peasant’s Clever Daughter. I decided to use this story as it is an unfamiliar Brothers Grimm story that applied to the suitor test theme. In this tale the king puts the peasant’s daughter through a test of cleverness to prove her worthiness. Then, after they are married, he performs another test of her love. What really drew me to this particular tale is the test’s focus on the girl’s cleverness. Many suitor tests focus on testing beauty or grace. I liked that this story focused on a trait regarding the woman’s mind. I twisted the story a little bit from the original to make the king regret his second test of her. In this way I was able to provide a lesson in the tale for my bride Caroline. The quilt is also a new addition which I use to connect my story and the fairy tale. Each of my stories is going to have a physical object that comes from the tale and is given to Caroline to remind her of the lesson each person teaches her. Other than those two additions, the plot of the fairy tale is identical to the original story. In this way the integrity of the original story is kept intact.
Author’s Note: I based this story on an old Grimm Fairy Tale, The Peasant’s Clever Daughter. I decided to use this story as it is an unfamiliar Brothers Grimm story that applied to the suitor test theme. In this tale the king puts the peasant’s daughter through a test of cleverness to prove her worthiness. Then, after they are married, he performs another test of her love. What really drew me to this particular tale is the test’s focus on the girl’s cleverness. Many suitor tests focus on testing beauty or grace. I liked that this story focused on a trait regarding the woman’s mind. I twisted the story a little bit from the original to make the king regret his second test of her. In this way I was able to provide a lesson in the tale for my bride Caroline. The quilt is also a new addition which I use to connect my story and the fairy tale. Each of my stories is going to have a physical object that comes from the tale and is given to Caroline to remind her of the lesson each person teaches her. Other than those two additions, the plot of the fairy tale is identical to the original story. In this way the integrity of the original story is kept intact.