So when the sermon was over, and the King’s daughter was to go out of the church, the Prince had got a firkin of pitch poured out in the porch, that he might come and help her over it; but she didn’t care a bit—she just put her foot right down into the midst of the pitch, and jumped across it; but then one of her golden shoes stuck fast in it, and as she got on her horse, up came the Prince running out of the church, and asked whence she came.
“I’m from Combland”, said Katie. But when the Prince wanted to reach her the gold shoe, she said,
Bright before and dark behind,
Clouds come rolling on the wind;
That this Prince may never see
Where my good steed goes with me.
So the Prince couldn’t tell still what had become of her, and he went about a weary time all over the world asking for “Combland”; but when no one could tell him where it lay, he ordered it to be given out everywhere that he would wed the woman whose foot could fit the gold shoe.
So many came of all sorts from all sides, fair and ugly alike; but there was no one who had so small a foot as to be able to get on the gold shoe. And after a long, long time, who should come but Katie’s wicked stepmother, and her daughter, too, and her the gold shoe fitted; but ugly she was, and so loathly she looked, the Prince only kept his word sore against his will. Still they got ready the wedding-feast, and she was dressed up and decked out as a bride; but as they rode to church, a little bird sat upon a tree and sang:
A bit off her heel,
And a bit off her toe;
Katie Woodencloak’s tiny shoe
Is full of blood—that’s all I know.
And, sure enough, when they looked to it the bird told the truth, for blood gushed out of the shoe.
Then all the maids and women who were about the palace had to go up to try on the shoe, but there was none of them whom it would fit at all.
“But where’s Katie Woodencloak?” asked the Prince, when all the rest had tried the shoe, for he understood the song of birds very well, and bore in mind what the little bird had said.
“Oh! she think of that!” said the rest; “it’s no good her coming forward. Why, she’s legs like a horse.”