the merchant's son spoke to the ring, and immediately a beautiful house and a lovely princess with golden hair appeared. he spoke to the pot and spoon, also, and the most delicious dishes of food were provided for them. so he married the princess, and they lived very happily for several years, until one morning the princess, while arranging her toilet, put the loose hairs into a hollow bit of reed and threw them into the river that flowed along under the window. the reed floated on the water for many miles, and was at last picked up by the prince of that country, who curiously opened it and saw the golden hair. on finding it the prince rushed off to the palace, locked himself up in his room, and would not leave it. he had fallen desperately in love with the woman whose hair he had picked up, and refused to eat, or drink, or sleep, or move, till she was brought to him. the king, his father, was in great distress about the matter, and did not know what to do. he feared lest his son should die and leave him without an heir. at last he determined to seek the counsel of his aunt, who was an ogress. the old woman consented to help him, and bade him not to be anxious, as she felt certain that she would succeed in getting the beautiful woman for his son's wife.