There was once a mother who had two daughters, one her own, the other a stepdaughter. The stepdaughter was honest and hard-working. In spite of that, she was scolded all the time and kept half starved. Her stepsister, on the other hand, was pampered and spoiled beyond any belief.
One year, and it was in the midst of winter, the mother ordered her stepdaughter to the forest to gather strawberries. She gave the girl a large basket and a loaf of bread made of sand and ashes with which she had mixed a bit of flour.
The young girl walked all day, up and down and everywhere, but could find no strawberries. Tired and discouraged, she started homeward but found she had lost her way. Not knowing what to do and with evening approaching, the poor girl sat down on a tree stump and started to cry as though she would never stop. After a while she raised her head and noticed a little house close by. Slowly, she walked to the house, knocked at the door, and went in. An old, old woman rose and came to meet her.
"Please," begged the girl, "may I stay and warm myself by the fire?"
That she might do.
"But tell me," said the old woman, "where are you from and why are you in the forest with that large basket?"
"My stepmother sent me to the forest early this morning so that I might gather strawberries for her. I have looked long and hard but have found nothing. If I return to my stepmother with no strawberries, she will scold and beat me most harshly."
The old woman listened but said not a word.
The young girl felt her hunger as the warmth of the fire crept into her body. She took the bread out of her basket and, breaking it in two, gave the woman a piece. The woman put a crumb into her mouth and tasted it. She could not swallow it.
"What poor bread you have, my daughter."
"Oh, that is the kind my stepmother always gives me."
The old woman reached for a loaf of her own bread and gave it to the young girl. It was white and light and most tasteful.
"Oh, dear old mother," cried the girl, "how delicious your bread is! Suchlike I have never had before in my mouth."
When she had warmed herself and was no longer hungry, the old woman said, "Dear daughter, take that broom which stands in the corner and sweep all the paths around this house. Then you will find as many strawberries as you could ever wish for."
Taking the broom, the girl went out of doors and began to sweep the paths. As she swept, she noticed, suddenly, strawberries all about her in the snow-- baskets and basketsful. She filled her basket with the tender, sweet berries and ran into the house, not knowing how to thank the old woman. Bidding the woman good-by, she turned to go home. The old woman walked to the road with her, where she gave the girl a small box.
"Keep this box closed. Open it only after three days have passed. In this box you will find your luck."
But the stepdaughter wondered. "Do I have such a thing as luck?"
"Yes, yes," said the old woman, "in that box lies your luck."
"Then, perhaps, you are Mother Luck herself?"
"That I am," answered the old woman and vanished.
The young girl went home happily. She gave the strawberries to her stepmother, who wondered where the girl had found them. As she asked questions, her stepdaughter answered and, very soon, her stepmother had heard the whole story. How the girl had searched for strawberries all day long without any luck. How she had gone into a little house to warm herself and found Mother Luck, who had given her the good white bread and even a box in which she was to find her luck.
The very next day the stepmother sent her own daughter to the forest to gather strawberries. But, to her, she gave all kinds of dainties to eat and a loaf of fine white bread. The daughter went into the forest and, very soon, found Mother Luck's little house. She went into the house in the boldest fashion, sat down on a chair, and said, "How terribly cold I am!"
Mother Luck said nothing.
The girl pulled the dainties and the white bread from her basket and, setting them on the table, started to eat, offering nothing to Mother luck.
"Will you not share your food with me?" asked Mother Luck.
"What? Share my food with you when everyone knows that you have everything that you need, and more?" And the girl continued to eat alone.
When she had finished, she turned to Mother Luck and said, "Now, give me the strawberries!"
"Take that broom which stands in the corner, sweep the paths around the house, and there you will find strawberries enough."
"I am not one to sweep paths," answered the girl.
So, Mother Luck took the broom that was in the corner, went out of doors, and swept the paths herself. Why, she even helped the girl gather the strawberries!
"And when are you going to give me my luck?" asked the girl.
Mother Luck gave the daughter a little box.
"Keep this box closed. Open it only after a year has passed. In this box you will find your luck."
The girl ran off joyfully and reached her home quite out of breath.
It so happened that on the following day the king's son came to that house, seeking a maidservant. The stepdaughter agreed to serve him. At the same time she offered him some of the strawberries she had gathered. The king's son was much surprised. Where, in the midst of winter, had she found such tender, sweet berries? The girl told him how it had all happened. In came her stepsister, who also offered strawberries to the king's son. He tasted them. How bitter they were! He certainly could not eat them.
When the three days had passed, the time came for the stepdaughter to open the box that Mother Luck had Given her. There, inside, she found jewels and rings, splendid finery, and a golden crown.
And it also happened that the king's son asked for the stepdaughter's hand in marriage, and, in due time, she became a queen.
As for her stepsister, she opened her box when the year had passed. Out of the box fire shot forth, burning down the house, the cruel mother, and the pampered daughter.
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