There was, once upon a time, a widow, who had two daughters. The eldest1 was so much like her in the face and humour, that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother. They were both so disagreeable, and so proud, that there was no living with them. The youngest, who was the very picture of her father, for courtesy and sweetness of temper, was withal one of the most beautiful girls ever seen. As people naturally love their own likeness2, this mother even doated on her eldest daughter, and at the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest. She made her eat in the kitchen, and work continually.
Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to draw water above a mile and a half off the house, and bring home a pitcher3 full of it. One day, as she was at this fountain, there came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to let her drink.
“O ay, with all my heart, Goody,” said this pretty maid; and rinsing4 immediately the pitcher, she took up some water from the clearest place of the fountain, and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all the while, that she might drink the easier.
The good woman having drank, said to her:
“You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so mannerly, that I cannot help giving you a gift” (for this was a Fairy, who had taken the form of a poor country-woman, to see how far the civility and good manners of this pretty girl would go). “I will give you for gift,” continued the Fairy, “that at every word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either a flower, or a jewel.”
When this pretty girl came home, her mother scolded at her for staying so long at the fountain.
“I beg your pardon, mamma,” said the poor girl, “for not making more haste,” and, in speaking these words, there came out of her mouth two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds.
“What is this I see?” said her mother quite astonished, “I think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl’s mouth! How happens this, child?” (This was the first time she ever called her child.)
The poor creature told her frankly5 all the matter, not without dropping out infinite numbers of diamonds.
“In good faith,” cried the mother, “I must send my child thither6. Come hither, Fanny, look what comes out of thy sister’s mouth when she speaks! Would’st not thou be glad, my dear, to have the same gift given to thee? Thou hast nothing else to do but go and draw water out of the fountain, and when a certain poor woman asks thee to let her drink, to give it her very civilly.”
“It would be a very fine sight indeed,” said this ill-bred minx, “to see me go draw water!”
“You shall go, hussey,” said the mother, “and this minute.”
So away she went, but grumbling7 all the way, taking with her the best silver tankard in the house.
She was no sooner at the fountain, than she saw coming out of the wood a lady most gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to drink. This was, you must know, the very Fairy who appeared to her sister, but had now taken the air and dress of a princess, to see how far this girl’s rudeness would go.
“Am I come hither,” said the proud, saucy8 slut, “to serve you with water, pray? I suppose the silver tankard was brought purely9 for your ladyship, was it? However, you may drink out of it, if you have a fancy.”
“You are not over and above mannerly,” answered the Fairy, without putting herself in a passion. “Well then, since you have so little breeding, and are so disobliging, I give you for gift, that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad10.”
So soon as her mother saw her coming, she cried out: “Well, daughter?”
“Well, mother?” answered the pert hussey, throwing out of her mouth two vipers11 and two toads12.
“O mercy!” cried the mother, “what is it I see! O, it is that wretch13 her sister who has occasioned all this; but she shall pay for it”; and immediately she ran to beat her. The poor child fled away from her and went to hide herself in the forest, not far from thence.
The King’s son, then on his return from hunting, met her, and seeing her so very pretty, asked her what she did there alone, and why she cried.
“Alas! sir, my mamma has turned me out of doors.”
The King’s son, who saw five or six pearls, and as many diamonds, come out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened. She thereupon told him the whole story; and so the King’s son fell in love with her; and, considering with himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage-portion whatsoever14 in another, conducted her to the palace of the King his father, and there married her.
As for her sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother turned her off; and the miserable15 wretch, having wandered about a good while without finding anybody to take her in, went to a corner in the wood and there died.
The Moral
Money and jewels still, we find,
Stamp strong impressions on the mind.
But sweet discourse16 more potent17 riches yields;
Of higher value is the pow’r it wields18.
Another
Civil behaviour costs indeed some pains,
Requires of complaisance19 some little share;
But soon or late its due reward it gains,
And meets it often when we’re not aware.
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1
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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2
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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4
rinsing
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| n.清水，残渣v.漂洗( rinse的现在分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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5
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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7
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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8
saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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9
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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10
toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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11
vipers
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| n.蝰蛇( viper的名词复数 )；毒蛇；阴险恶毒的人；奸诈者 | |
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12
toads
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 ) | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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wields
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的第三人称单数 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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19
complaisance
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| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
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