Once upon a time in a town on the banks of a river that twice circled the world there was a small girl. Grizelda, was her name. She was the daughter of the miller and she was more beautiful than any other girl. They lived alone because her mother was dead, and though the miller was a poor man given to helping his neighbors before he ever helped himself, they were happy.
One day, however, the miller realized he would soon have no more money and he did not know what he would do. He told his daughter and she replied that she would take care of them and would leave presently to find an answer. Taking a small pack and a locket that held a tiny painting of her mother, she kissed her father goodbye. He wished her good fortune and reminded her not to traffic with strangers. Then she set out upon the road to the city of the King.
She walked for a day and then another. She slept in haystacks in the fields at night trusting that nothing would bother with a girl of her small stature. The hay was soft and warm and she put a little straw in her backpack to make a pillow. After waking, Grizelda broke the fast on apples from an orchard, and saved a few in her pack. She continued on walking through a village and another and another before coming to the gates to the city of the King.
Outside the gates a man approached her and asked her business in the city. She replied that she was here to save her father who is the miller in their village. She told him that her father had given away most of his money to help others and she hoped the king would hear her and reward her father's generosity.
He asked how she would gain audience with the king. She did not know. He answered that perhaps he could be of help and invited her to come with him. She went with him forgetting her father's warning. He led her to a house and told her she would have to tidy up for an audience with the king. He showed her to a room she could use and she followed him inside. He left, closing the door and she washed the dust of the road from her face. When she was done, Grizelda went to open the door only to find it locked and she with no key. She cried out but there was no answer. She then remembered her father's warning and her heart fell heavy.
In her despair Grizelda opened her locket and asked her mother what she should do. The locket grew warm and she heard her mother's voice tell her not to fear, that a child with such a pure heart could escape from evil. Her mother told her to look in the corner and find a mouse hole. Then she said to give the mouse a gift and it would help Grizelda.
She closed the locket and ran to the corner. Sure enough there was a little mouse hole. A gift for a mouse she wondered, and then remembered the apples in her pack. She took them out and cut them in half and then in half again with her small knife and placed the pieces in front of the hole. She called out to the mouse for help and shortly a nose and whiskers appeared. She implored the mouse to help her and it looked at her, sniffed the apple pieces and then asked how it could be of service. Grizelda asked if the mouse could bring her the key to open the door. It nodded its head and taking the apple, disappeared into its hole.
She opened her locket and asked her mother what she should do next. Look for a strand of the man's hair upon the dresser the voice told her and she did. Make a figure of a man from the straw in your backpack, weaving the hair into it as you do. This she did and her mother told her to ready her knife in one hand to stab the straw man when she needed to get away from her kidnapper. She readied herself so and waited for the little mouse.
Soon the mouse returned and in his mouth he carried a key. She thanked him and gave him another apple saying goodbye and wishing him well. The key fit the lock and she opened the door. The hallway was empty and she crept toward the door outside. A thunderous roar interrupted her and she saw the man rushing at her from upstairs. Quickly she stabbed the straw man in the leg and ran for the door. The evil man cried out and stumbled on the steps, falling and allowing her to reach the door. She flung it open and ran shouting into the street, "Murderer, Murderer."
Passing by was the retinue of the king who led the way on a fine horse. The king heard the little girl and rushed to her aid just as the evil man appeared at the door. The king drew his sword and cut the evil man down on the spot. When she realized who had saved her, Grizelda flung herself at his feet and told her entire story to the king. He praised her courage and promised to help her father. Then, he gave her all the money that the evil man had hidden and sent her home in a carriage drawn by three pairs of mighty horses.
When she arrived home her father cried out with joy and hugged her long. He listened to her amazing story and promised her she would never have to endure such trouble again and she never did. And now my tale is done, little pumpkinheads.
©William Wright
