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HERE was once a Miller who was very poor, but he had a beautiful daughter. Now, it fell out that he had occasion to speak with the King, and, in order to give himself an air of importance, he said: ‘I have a daughter who can spin gold out of straw.’

The King said to the Miller: ‘That is an art in which I am much interested. If your daughter is as skilful as you say she is, bring her to my castle to-morrow, and I will put her to the test.’

Accordingly, when the girl was brought to the castle, the King conducted her to a chamber which was quite full of straw, gave her a spinning-wheel and winder, and said, ‘Now, set to work, and if between to-night and to-morrow at dawn you have not spun this straw into gold you must die.’ Thereupon he carefully locked the door of the chamber, and she remained alone.

There sat the unfortunate Miller’s daughter, and for the life of her did not know what to do. She had not the least idea how to spin straw into gold, and she became more and more distressed, until at last she began to weep. Then all at once the door sprang open, and in stepped a little Mannikin, who said: ‘Good evening, Mistress Miller, what are you weeping so for?’

‘Alas!’ answered the Maiden, ‘I’ve got to spin gold out of straw, and don’t know how to do it.’

Then the Mannikin said, ‘What will you give me if I spin it for you?’

‘My necklace,’ said the Maid.

The little Man took the necklace, sat down before the