Aberg, G. A., Nylandska Folksagor. Helsingfors, 1887. P. 322, No. 252. (From Virby in Kyrnstätt, Finland.)
"FLICKORNA, SOM FORO TILL KUNGENS GARD"
(The Girls who went to the King's Palace).
ABSTRACT
Three sisters are to go as servants to the king's palace. Eldest meets cow with pail on its horns, asking to be milked; sheep with scissors on its horns, asking to be shorn; old man with knife in his hand, asking to be loused. She refuses each, lest she soil her hands. Gets work at palace. Second sister meets the same, and declines to help. Heroine milks cow and drinks milk; shears sheep and takes wool; louses old man, who gives her a silk dress, silver dress, gold dress, a gold carriage, gold shoes, and gold horse. Menial heroine (at palace)--Magic dresses--Meeting-place (church)--(Threefold flight)--Lost shoe--Shoe marriage test-- Happy marriage.
TABULATION
(1) Three sisters--two wicked, one good--are to go to palace to be king's servants. On the way eldest meets cow with milk-pail on its horns asking to be milked, promising milk as reward. Girl refuses lest she soil nice white hands. She goes further and meets sheep with scissors on its horns asking to be shorn, promising wool as reward. Girl gives same answer. Next she meets old man with knife in his hand, asking to be loused. She gives same answer; goes to palace and gets employment.-- (2) Second sister meets the same, and likewise refuses to help them.-- (3) Heroine milks cow and drinks the milk; shears sheep and takes the wool; louses old man and gets from him a silk dress, a silver dress, a gold dress, gold shoes, gold carriage, and gold horse.-- (4) She takes service at palace.--(5) On Sunday she goes to church in silk dress; sisters see fair lady and afterwards tell heroine, who says she would like to go herself next Sunday to look at her.-- (6) Next Sunday heroine wears silver dress to church, and afterwards makes same remark to sisters.-- (7) Third Sunday she drives to church in gold carriage, wearing gold dress and shoes. Afterwards tells sisters she is very sorry she did not go to see the fair lady; will certainly go next Sunday.-- (8) And she goes. But fair lady is not there, having lost gold shoe last Sunday, and not liking to go without it.-- (9) Prince finds shoe, and says he will wed whomsoever it fits. It is too small for some, too large for others. At last heroine tries it on and it fits her. -- (10) Prince marries heroine.
