A poor man made his living selling wild herbs gathered from forests and along city walls His three daughters made their living spinning and selling yarn from wool caught on bushes as sheep passed on their way to meadow When the father died the three sisters became even poorer The king of their city was a worried sort At night he lurked in the shadows outside houses eavesdropping He wanted to know what his subjects said about him One night he overheard the sisters The oldest sister said If I were the wife of the royal butler I’d make sure everyone had plenty to drink I’d fill one glass and they’d pass it around and it would never empty The middle sister said If I were the wife of the keeper of the royal wardrobe I’d clothe everyone all with a single piece of cloth that would never run out The youngest sister said If I were the king’s wife we would have triplets Two sons born with apples in their hands and a daughter born with a star on her forehead The next morning the king had his servants bring those sisters to him He handed the oldest girl a glass of water and said Prove your words from last night The oldest sister carried the glass from one royal attendant to the next All drank yet the glass still held water The oldest sister was as astonished as everyone else after all the sisters talk had been but idle dreams But the king was satisfied You are now the wife of the royal butler The king handed a piece of cloth and a pair of scissors to the middle sister Prove your words from last night The middle sister cut clothing for all the royal attendants and still there was cloth left The middle sister was astonished Again though the king was satisfied You are now the wife of the keeper of the royal wardrobe 12
The king turned to the youngest sister I will give you a chance to prove your words You will be my queen If you bear me the triplets you described last night for the rest of your life you will want for nothing But if you fail woe to you The youngest sister blinked in fear But her older sisters had been lucky So she let herself hope She became queen The older sisters while they were no longer poor were servants They grew envious of the youngest sister They hated her The youngest sister soon became pregnant Not long before she gave birth the king declared war on another kingdom He told his servants that if his queen gave birth to triplets two boys with apples in their hands and a girl with a star on her forehead all would be well But if not they were to send word to him And he rode off to battle The youngest sister gave birth to triplets exactly as she had foretold She kissed each with gratitude and wonder But her envious sisters bribed the nursemaid to get rid of the babies and put puppies in their place Word was sent to the king that his queen had produced three puppies In 13
