RUMPELSTILTZKIN There was once upon a time a poor miller who had a very beautiful daughter . Now it happened one day that he had an audience with the King , and in order to appear a person of some importance he told him that he had a daughter who could spin straw into gold . `` Now that 's a talent worth having , '' said the King to the miller ; `` if your daughter is as clever as you say , bring her to my palace to-morrow , and I 'll put her to the test . '' When the girl was brought to him he led her into a room full of straw , gave her a spinning-wheel and spindle , and said : `` Now set to work and spin all night till early dawn , and if by that time you have n't spun the straw into gold you shall die . '' Then he closed the door behind him and left her alone inside . So the poor miller 's daughter sat down , and did n't know what in the world she was to do . She had n't the least idea of how to spin straw into gold , and became at last so miserable that she began to cry . Suddenly the door opened , and in stepped a tiny little man and said : `` Good-evening , Miss Miller-maid ; why are you crying so bitterly ? '' `` Oh ! '' answered the girl , `` I have to spin straw into gold , and have n't a notion how it 's done . '' `` What will you give me if I spin it for you ? '' asked the manikin . `` My necklace , '' replied the girl . The little man took the necklace , sat himself down at the wheel , and whir , whir , whir , the wheel went round three times , and the bobbin was full . Then he put on another , and whir , whir , whir , the wheel went round three times , and the second too was full ; and so it went on till the morning , when all the straw was spun away , and all the bobbins were full of gold . As soon as the sun rose the King came , and when he perceived the gold he was astonished and delighted , but his heart only lusted more than ever after the precious metal . He had the miller 's daughter put into another room full of straw , much bigger than the first , and bade her , if she valued her life , spin it all into gold before the following morning . The girl did n't know what to do , and began to cry ; then the door opened as before , and the tiny little man appeared and said : `` What 'll you give me if I spin the straw into gold for you ? '' `` The ring from my finger , '' answered the girl . The manikin took the ring , and whir !
round went the spinning-wheel again , and when morning broke he had spun all the straw XXXXX glittering gold .
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