The Pale Maiden

Once upon a time in a faraway land lived a cruel knight.

The knight had plenty of land under his control. There were many peasants who lived under the control of the knight. The peasants worked day-and-night but most of the yield was taken away by the knight.

One of the peasants living under the control of the knight had a beautiful daughter. The old knight wanted to marry the peasant's young daughter.

However the young daughter did not like the old knight because he was a very cruel man.

Angry with this the old knight oppressed the peasant and his family in every way he could.

Finally unable to take it anymore, the peasant and his family decided to leave the little cottage that they occupied and go somewhere else.

Even as they were packing they heard a grating sound near the stove. The family was shocked to find a pale, transparent-looking lady near the stove. This grating sound they had heard was because the lady was trying to detach herself from the stove.

"Who are you?" The peasant was shocked.

"I am your Poverty." The woman told the peasant. "Now that you're leaving this place you have to take me with you too."

The peasant stared at the woman for a few seconds but he said nothing immediately.

"If you are coming with me then you have to help me move my belongings."

Poverty agreed.

The peasant made sure that his family carried all the other things.

After that he led Poverty to his barn where there was a log of wood. He created a wedge in the log of wood and directed Poverty to lift the log. As Poverty was about to lift the log, the peasant closed the wedge on the pale lady’s fingers.

No matter how much Poverty wailed the peasant did not come back or free her. He left her in the cottage and went to a new village.

The old knight came to the empty cottage. There he saw the pale lady in the barn and freed her.

After that the lady never left the person who freed her. The old knight eventually became very poor after he ran all his riches.

The peasant in the new village worked very hard. Soon he became one of the richest men in the place.

Polish Folk Stories