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123

Volkesunde, Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche Folk-lore onder Reactie van Pol de Mont en Aug. Gittee. (Antwerp, 1889) ii, 203. (By Mr. A. de Cock, of Denderleeuw.)

"VAN DEN KONING EN VAN JENNE ZIJN ZOET LIEFKEN"
(The Story of the King and of Jenny his true Love).

ABSTRACT

Ill-treated heroine (by mother and elder sisters)--Menial heroine, called "Sloddeken-vuil" (little dirty fine weather when heroine goes to mind sheep; always wet when elder sister goes. Heroine gives bread to old man, who in re turn draws a sheep, and bids her knock at it when she wants food. Next day he draws a tree which, when tapped, will give Magic dresses, and a carriage and eight--Task (to polish a heap of old iron); performed by angels--Meeting-place (ball)--Task (grain collecting); performed by angels--Meeting-place (ball)-- King takes one of heroine's shoes (Lost shoe)--Shoe marriage test--Mutilated feet (two sisters') witness (bird)-- Villain Nemesis--Happy marriage.

TABULATION

(1) Woman has three daughters-- Bet, Griet, and Jenne. Youngest is ill-treated, and made to do all the dirty work, and is therefore called "Skodde ken-Vuil" (Little Dirty-Slut).-- (2) It is always fine when heroine takes sheep to pasture, always wet when Bet takes them. One day Bet declines her white wheaten bread and butter; heroine asks to have it, and gives old man a piece. In reward he draws a sheep, and tells heroine to knock at it when she wants food. -- (3) Next day Griet wants to take sheep to pasture. Again there is dreadful storm. Jenne is therefore sent, and is given a scrap of bread-and-butter. She goes off delighted, meets old man, and gives him some, he draws a tree (populus alba); when heroine knocks at it she shall have a dress like a queen's and a carriage-and-eight.-- (4) There is a ball in king's palace. Mother and sisters buy beautiful dresses. Heroine is abused for asking to go, and must first polish heap of old iron. She sets to work, and there come to help her as many angels as there are bits of iron. She knocks at poplar; beautifully clad, she drives to palace, and dances all night with the king. Afterwards she returns everything to poplar, and asks mother who was fairest at the ball. Mother tells of stranger who came unexpectedly.-- (5) All happens the same at second ball. Heroine is allowed to go after picking up every grain of a large heap of wheat. As many angels as there are grains come to help. When she is leaving ball king takes one of her shoes. "Never mind!" says Jenne; "where one shoe was made, two can be." King asks whence she comes. "From the land where girls are not sought." He does not understand. She drives home and asks mother same question as before.-- (6) After a time king comes and says to mother, "You have three daughters "No, only two." "Fetch them, then; for whoever can wear this shoe must be queen." Bet cuts her heel and puts on shoe. King goes off with her in carriage; but, as they pass poplar, bird sings, "Alas! Sir King, it is not your sweet love little Jenne!" King says, "Is it not!" Bird repeats, and king throws Bet into ditch.-- (7) He returns for Griet, who cuts off her toes. Bird denounces her in same words, and she is likewise thrown into ditch.-- (8) King bids mother confess on pain of death whether she has a third daughter. Mother admits she has, but says she is too dirty to appear. King insists; heroine is called, shoe fits her, king kisses her, and leads her to carriage. As they pass poplar, bird sings, "Hail, Sir King! This is your sweet love, little Jenne!" Heroine knocks at tree and gets a sky-coloured velvet dress, a carriage, and eight prancing horses. They drive away, and if they have not stopped, are still driving.

Cox, Marian Roalfe. Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap O' Rushes, abstracted and tabulated. London: David Nutt for the Folklore Society, 1893.

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