a drunken soldier rode his horse against her stall
“Ah, miserable girl that I am,” she sighed. “Why did I not marry King Grisly-Beard?”
“That is no business of mine,” said the singer.
At last they came to a small cottage. “To whom does this little hovel belong?” she asked.
“This is yours and mine,” said the beggar. “This is where we are to live.”
“Where are your servants?” she asked, falteringly.
“We cannot afford servants,” said he. “You will have to do whatever is to be done. Now, make the fire and put on water and cook my supper.”
The Princess knew nothing of making fires and cooking, and the beggar was forced to help her. Early the next morning he called her to clean the house.
Thus they lived for three days, and when they had eaten up all there was in the cottage, the man said: “Wife, we can’t go on like this, spending money and earning nothing. You must learn to weave baskets.” So he went out and cut willows, and brought them home and taught her how to weave. But it made her fingers very sore.