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257

Zingerle, Ignaz und Josef, Tirols Volksdichtungen und Volksgebräuche, gessamelt durch die Bruder Ignaz und Josef. Band i. Kinder- und Hausmärchen. Innsbruck, 1852. Story No. XVI, pp. 86-94 (1st edition); 72-78 (2nd edition, 1870). (Told in Passeier.)

"HENNENPFOSL."¹

ABSTRACT

Ill-treated heroine (by parents) --Heroine flight--Rank dresses hidden by heroine in rock hole--Heroine disguise (as peasant) --Menial heroine (poultry-girl) - Meeting-place (ball)-- Threefold flight--Money thrown to guards--Recognition food (containing ring given at third ball)-.--Happy marriage.

TABULATION

(1) A count and countess have several children, all of whom they love very much, except the youngest, who is far more beautiful titan all her sisters.-- (2) Being unkindly treated by parents, she resolves to leave home and seek situation. She packs three nice dresses, a blue, a red, and a white, in a bundle, dons costly clothes, and sets out. Presently she meets a peasant- woman, and changes clothes with her. She comes to rock, leaves her bundle in a cave at the foot, and mounts to castle on the height. The castellan, who opens to her knock, accosts her harshly.-- (3) She asks for employment, and is engaged as poultry-girl (Hennenpfosl).-- (4) The owner of the castle gives a large ball, to which he invites all the neighbourhood, meaning to choose the loveliest girl for his bride. When the sound of the music reaches the poultry- girl, she goes to porter, and asks permission to go into ball-room for one moment. He says, how can such a dirty thing as she is be allowed amongst the company. She rejoins, that he will have no occasion to be ashamed of her when she is washed and dressed. She goes to rock, and exchanges her mean kirtle for the sky-blue dress. When she enters ball-room the owner of the castle sees at once that she is by far the most beautiful girl present, and dances with her forthwith. The dance over, she vanishes, no o knows whither. The lord of the castle is inconsolable. Heroine returns dress to rock, and is back at the castle.-- (5) Anon, the lord gives another ball, in the hope of seeing her again, and gives orders that no one is to be allowed to leave the castle. Heroine attends as before, this time in red dress. After dancing with lord she runs to door, and, finding it guarded, scatters gold to the servants, and, whilst they pick it up, escapes.-- (6) The lord is very miserable at losing her, and, after a time, gives third ball, which she attends, wearing white dress. Whilst dancing with her he slips a gold ring on her finger. She again runs off after first dance, and slips through the guards whilst they are picking up the gold she scatters.-- (7) One day lord orders cook to make pancake. Heroine happens to be in kitchen whilst they are frying, and begs to be allowed to make just one pancake for the master. At last cook consents, and, whilst his back is turned, she slips ring into the dough. The lord is astounded when he presently finds the ring, and sends at once fur cook, who will not confess that he allowed the dirty poultry-girl to make one of the cakes, till threatened with death.-- (8) Then heroine is called, appears prettily dressed, and is instantly recognised. In a few weeks they are married.

1: Hennenpfosl, in Passeier, = Hennendirne.
Return to place in text.

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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