She went away to the rock and knocked at it with the stick , and then the man came out and gave her a gown which was very much more magnificent than either of the others . It was almost entirely made of pure gold and diamonds , and she also got a noble horse with housings embroidered with gold , and a golden bridle . When the King 's daughter came to the church the priest and people were all standing on the hillside waiting for her , and the Prince ran up and wanted to hold the horse , but she jumped off , saying : ` No , thank you , there is no need ; my horse is so well broken in that it will stand still when I bid it . ' So they all hastened into the church together and the priest got into the pulpit , but no one listened to what he said , for they were looking far too much at her and wondering whence she came ; and the Prince was far more in love than he had been on either of the former occasions , and he was mindful of nothing but of looking at her . When the sermon was over and the King 's daughter was about to leave the church , the Prince had caused a firkin of tar to be emptied out in the porch in order that he might go to help her over it ; she , however , did not trouble herself in the least about the tar , but set her foot down in the middle of it and jumped over it , and thus one of her gold shoes was left sticking in it . When she had seated herself on the horse the Prince came running out of the church and asked her whence she came . ` From Combland , ' said Kari . But when the Prince wanted to reach her her gold shoe , she said : ` Darkness behind me , but light on my way , That the Prince may not see where I 'm going to-day ! ' The Prince did not know what had become of her , so he travelled for a long and wearisome time all over the world , asking where Combland was ; but when no one could tell him where that country was , he caused it to be made known everywhere that he would marry any woman who could put on the gold shoe . So fair maidens and ugly maidens came thither from all regions , but there was none who had a foot so small that she could put on the gold shoe . After a long , long while came Kari Woodengown 's wicked stepmother , with her daughter too , and the shoe fitted her . But she was so ugly and looked so loathsome that the Prince was very unwilling to do what he had promised . Nevertheless all was got ready for the wedding , and she was decked out as a bride , but as they were riding to church a little bird sat upon a tree and sang : ' A slice off her heel And a slice off her toes , Kari Woodengown 's shoe Fills with blood as she goes ! ' And when they looked to it the bird had spoken the truth , for blood was trickling out of the shoe . So all the waiting-maids , and all the womenkind in the castle had to come and try on the shoe , but there was not one whom it would fit . ` But where is Kari Woodengown , then ? ' asked the Prince , when all the others had tried on the shoe , for he understood the song of birds and it came to his mind what the bird had said . ` Oh ! that creature ! ' said the others ; ` it 's not the least use for her to come here , for she has feet like a horse ! '
` That may be , ' said the XXXXX , ` but as all the others have tried it , Kari may try it too . '
Combland Kari King Prince Woodengown firkin housings left waiting-maids womenkind