Diamonds and Snakes

 Long ago a couple had two daughters. 

The elder daughter was exactly like her mother. Both the elder daughter and the mother were very rude and often misbehaved with other people. 

The younger daughter on the other hand was exactly like the father and she was very kind and courteous to all. 

The mother liked the elder daughter more than the younger one. It was because of this that the mother very often had the younger daughter do all the work in the house. 

Once the younger daughter had to bring water from the well behind their house. While the younger daughter was filling the water in the pot an old lady came up to her. The old lady begged for some water from the younger daughter. 

The younger daughter happily filled some more fresh water from the well in a pot and gave it to the old woman.

The old woman was actually a fairy in disguise. She was very pleased with the younger daughter's kindness. So she blessed the young child immediately. "Every time you open your mouth and speak, flowers or diamonds will come out of your mouth." 

The younger daughter went home and her mother scolded her for being late while collecting water. 

Even as the younger daughter tried to explain the reason she was late, flowers and diamonds flowed out of her mouth. 

The mother was shocked on seeing this. 

She decided that her elder daughter should also have the same gift. So she asked her elder daughter to fill water from the well behind. She warned her daughter to be kind to any strangers.

But the elder daughter was already very angry at being asked to do chores. Grumbling, she went to the well behind.

This time a beautifully dressed princess came to the well and asked for some water from the elder daughter. 

The elder daughter looked at the princess with disdain. “Do you think I brought this pot for you to drink? You can collect the water from the well and take it for yourself."

Naturally the princess was the fairy in disguise. She was very angry with the elder daughter for being so rude. 

She told the elder daughter. "Since you are behaving this way every time you speak, snakes or toads will come out of your mouth.

When the mother learnt of what had happened to her elder daughter she was furious. 

She was more furious with the younger daughter and drove the younger daughter away from the home.

The younger daughter went to the forest and did not know which way to go. 

A Prince returning from his hunting journey came that way. He saw the beautiful girl. 

"What are you doing here?" He asked her. 

The young girl shivered and nodded at the Prince. "My mother chased me out of the house."

Even as she spoke diamonds and flowers rolled out of her mouth. 

The Prince was surprised with it and he was already smitten with the girl's beauty. He took her to his castle and married her there. 

The mother was even more angry when she learnt of this. 

She sent her elder daughter to the forest too.

Unfortunately the elder daughter did not meet anyone there. 

She was lost in the woods never to be seen again.

Adapted from the stories of Charles Perrault