Taking off his pointed cap, he said to the girl, "What will you give me
if I will again spin this straw for you?"
"Ah!" said the maiden, "I have nothing more to give."
"Then you must make me a promise," said the little man. "You must
promise to give me your first child, after you have become queen."
[Illustration]
The poor girl saw no other way to save her life, so she gave her promise
to the little man.
Then he sat down and began to spin.
Whir! whir! went the wheel. Faster and faster he spun.
Soon the great roomful of straw was all turned into gold.
When the king opened the door the next morning, he saw the maiden
sitting beside a large heap of shining gold.
The king kept his promise, and made the poor miller's daughter his
queen.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN--II
About a year later the queen had a lovely child, but she forgot all
about her promise.
One day the little old man came hopping into the queen's room and said,
"Now give me what you have promised."
The queen was filled with terror, and offered the little man all the
riches of the kingdom if he would leave her the child.
"No, I do not care for riches; you must keep your promise."
Then the queen began to mourn and to weep, until the little man had pity
for her.
"I will give you three days," he said, "and if, in that time, you can
guess my name, you shall keep the child.
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