Frau Holla(1)
translated by Gary V. Hartman
| 1812 / 1815 | 1857 |
| A widow had two daughters, of whom the one was beautiful and diligent, the other ugly and lazy. She liked the ugly and lazy one much better, though, and the other one had to do all the work and was truly the ashpuddle in the house. | A widow had two daughters, of whom the one was beautiful and diligent, the other ugly and lazy. She liked the ugly and lazy one much better, though, because she was her real daughter, and the other one had to do all the work and to be the ashpuddle(2) in the house. |
| One time the maiden had gone out to fetch water, and as she bent over to draw the bucket out of the well, she bent too far and fell in. | The poor maiden had to seat herself daily on the main street by a well and had to spin so much, that blood ran out of her fingers. Now it once came to pass, that the spool was all bloody; then she bent over with it into the well and intended to wash it off. It jumped out of her hand, however, and fell in. She wept, ran to her stepmother, and told her of the misfortune. [Her stepmother] scolded her, though, so soundly, and [she] was so unmerciful that she said, "If you let the spool fall in, you should get it out again." Then the maiden went back to the well and did not know what to do, and in the anxiety of her heart, she jumped into the well to fetch the spool. |
| And when she awoke and came to herself again, she was in a beautiful meadow where the sun shone and there were many thousands of flowers. She walked along in this meadow and came to a baking oven that was full of bread. The bread, however, cried, "Oh, take me out, take me out. Otherwise, I will burn up. I have long been done." Then she stepped diligently up [to the oven] and took everything out. Afterward, she went farther and came to a tree that hung full of apples and called to her, "Oh, shake me! Shake me! We apples are all of us ripe." Then she shook the tree so that the apples fell as if they were raining, until not one was left up [in the tree]. Thereafter, she went on again. | She lost consciousness, and when she awoke and came to herself again, she was in a beautiful meadow where the sun shone and many thousands of flowers stood. She walked along in this meadow and came to a baking oven, which was full of bread. The bread, however, cried, "Oh, take me out, take me out. Otherwise, I will burn up. I have long been done." Then she stepped up [to the oven] and, with the bread shovel, took everything out, one after another. Afterward, she went farther and came to a tree that hung full of apples and called to her, "Oh, shake me, shake me. We apples are all of us ripe." Then she shook the tree so that the apples fell as if they were raining and shook until no more were left up [in the tree]. And when she had gathered them all into a pile, she went on again. |
| Finally, she came to a small house out of which an old woman peered. Because she had such big teeth, [the maiden] became afraid and started to run away. The old woman, however, called after her, "Do not be afraid, dear child. Remain with me. If you try to do all the work in the house properly, it shall go well with you. Only, you must pay close attention that you make my bed well and shake it out thoroughly [so] that the feathers fly. Then it will snow in the world.(3) I am Frau Holla." | Finally, she came to a small house out of which an old woman peered. Because she had such big teeth, [the maiden] became afraid and started to run away. The old woman, however, called after her, "What are you afraid of, dear child? Remain with me. If you try to do all the work in the house properly, it shall go well with you. You must only pay attention that you make my bed well and shake it out thoroughly [so] that the feathers fly. Then it will snow in the world. I am Frau Holla." |
| Because the old woman spoke so pleasantly, the maiden agreed and entered her service. She took care of everything to her satisfaction and always shook out her bed vigorously. In exchange, she also had a good living with her, not an angry word, and every day boiled and roasted [meat]. | Because the old woman addressed her so pleasantly, the maiden took heart, agreed, and entered her service. She took care of everything to her satisfaction and always shook out her bed vigorously so that the feathers flew about like snowflakes. In exchange, she also had a good living with her, not an angry word, and every day boiled and roasted [meat]. |
| Now she was with Frau Holla for a time, when she became sad in her heart. Even though she had it many thousand times better here than at home, she still had a longing to be there. Finally, she said to [Frau Holla], "I have gotten the aching for home, and even though I am so well off here, I still cannot remain any longer." Frau Holla said, "You are right, and because you have served me so faithfully, I will take you up myself." | Now she was with Frau Holla for a time, when she became sad and at first did not know herself what the matter was. Finally, she realized that it was homesickness. Even though she had it many thousand times better here than at home, she still had a longing to be there. Finally, she said to [Frau Holla], "I have gotten the aching for home, and even though I am so well off here below, I still cannot remain any longer. I have to go up again to my own." Frau Holla said, "It pleases me that you desire to return home, and because you have served me so faithfully, I will take you up myself." |
| Thereupon, she took her by the hand and led her in front of a large gate. It was opened, and when the maiden stood under it, a tremendous rain of gold fell, and all of the gold stayed stuck to her so that she was covered over and over with it. "That you shall have, because you have been so diligent," said Frau Holla. | Thereupon, she took her by the hand and led her in front of a large gate. It was opened, and when the maiden stood directly under it, a tremendous rain of gold fell, and all of the gold stayed stuck to her so that she was covered over and over with it. "That you shall have, because you have been so diligent," said Frau Holla and also gave her back the spool that had fallen into the well. |
| Thereupon, the gate was locked, and she was above in the world. Then she went home to her mother, and because she arrived so covered with gold, she was well received.(4) | Thereupon, the gate was locked, and the maiden found herself above in the world not far from her mother's house. And when she came into the yard, the cock sat on the well and called: "Cock-a-doodle-doo,Then she went inside to her mother, and because she arrived so covered with gold, she was well received by her and by her sister. |
| When her mother heard how she had come to the riches, she wanted to obtain the same good fortune for the other, [ugly](5) and lazy daughter, and she also had to throw herself into the well. Like the other, she awakened in the beautiful meadow and walked along the same path. | The maiden related everything that had befallen her, and when her mother heard how she had come to the great riches, she wanted to obtain the same good fortune for the other, ugly and lazy daughter. She [, too,] had to seat herself on the well and spin, and so that her spool became bloody, she stuck her fingers, herself, and thrust her hand into the thorn hedge. Then, she threw the spool into the well and jumped in herself. She arrived, like the other one, in the beautiful meadow and walked along the same path. |
| When she reached the baking oven, the bread cried again, "Oh, take me out, take me out. Otherwise, I will burn up. I have long been done." The lazy sister, however, answered, "As though I wanted to get myself dirty," and walked on. Soon she came to the apple tree that called, "Oh, shake me, shake me! We apples are all of us ripe!" She answered, though, "I like that! One could fall on my head," and with that walked on. | When she reached the baking oven, the bread cried again, "Oh, take me out, take me out. Otherwise I will burn up. I have long been done." The lazy sister, however, answered, "As though I wanted to get myself dirty," and walked on. Soon she came to the apple tree that called, "Oh, shake me, shake me! We apples are all of us ripe!" She answered, though, "I like that! One could fall on my head," and with that walked on. |
| When she came to Frau Holla's house, she was not afraid, because she had already heard about her big teeth and immediately went into service with her. On the first day, she made an effort and was diligent and obeyed Frau Holla when she said something to her, for she thought about all the gold that [Frau Holla] would give her. On the second day, however, she already began to loaf, on the third even more. Then she did not even want to get up in the morning. She also made Frau Holla's bed poorly and did not shake it properly [so] that the feathers flew into the air. Frau Holla soon became tired of that and gave the lazy sister notice. | When she came to Frau Holla's house, she was not afraid, because she had already heard about her big teeth and immediately went into service with her. On the first day, she made an effort, was diligent, and obeyed Frau Holla when she said something to her, for she thought about all the gold that [Frau Holla] would give her. On the second day, however, she already began to loaf, on the third even more. Then she did not even want to get up in the morning. She also did not make Frau Holla's bed as was fitting and did not shake it [so] that the feathers flew into the air. Frau Holla soon became tired of that and gave her notice. |
| The latter was well content and believed the rain of gold would now come. Frau Holla led her, too, to the gate, but when she stood under it, a great kettle of pitch was poured out instead of gold. "That is as a reward for your services," said Frau Holla and closed the gate. Then the lazy sister came home, completely covered with pitch, and it would not go away as long as she lived.(6) | The lazy sister was well content and believed the rain of gold would now come. Frau Holla led her, too, to the gate, but when she stood under it, a great kettle of pitch was poured out, instead of gold. "That is as a reward for your services," said Frau Holla and closed the gate. Then the lazy sister came home, but she was completely covered with pitch and the cock on the well called when he saw her, "Cock-a-doodle-doo,The pitch, however, stuck fast to her and would not go away as long as she lived. |
Appendix: To Frau Holla, No. 24(7)
There is yet another version of this fairy tale.
There was once a woman who loved only her real daughter but not her stepdaughter, always treated the latter severely, and tried to get rid of her. One day, she seated both daughters by a well, where they were supposed to spin. "Whoever lets the distaff fall down [into the well], I will throw in after it," she said and bound the distaff tight for her daughter, very loose for her stepdaughter. Scarcely had the latter spun a little, when her distaff falls into [the well], and her stepmother is unmerciful enough and throws her in after it. She falls far below, arrives in a magnificent garden and in a house, where there is no one. In the kitchen, the soup is about to run over, the roast is about to burn, and the cake in the oven about to turn black. She quickly takes off the soup, adds water to the roast, and takes out the cake and dishes it up. As hungry as she is, though, she takes nothing beyond a few little crumbs, which dropped off as she readied it. Thereupon, a water nymph arrives with terrible hair, which certainly has not been combed for a year, and demands that [the daughter] comb her, but not tug [her hair] and not pull out a single hair, which [the daughter] finally accomplishes with much skill. Now the water nymph says she would very much like to keep [the daughter] with her, but she cannot, because she has eaten the few crumbs. Yet, she makes her presents of a ring and other things. If she turns [the ring] during the night, [the water nymph] will try to come to her. The other daughter now is supposed to go to the water nymph and is thrown into the well. She does everything backwards, though, does not control her hunger, and therefore comes back with bad gifts.
The fairy tale in Naubert's collection I, 136-179 is adapted after this version, and expanded quite engagingly in the style of the other one. This fairy tale is also used in Die junge Amerikanerin oder Verkürzung müßiger Stunden auf dem Meer [The Young American Woman or Curtailing Idle Hours at Sea], Ulm, 1765, Pt. 1. The Woodchuck (Liron), as the stepchild is called, has to perform the meanest work, tend the sheep, and at the same time, bring home a certain amount of spun thread. The girl often seats herself on the edge of a spring.(8) One day, she tries to wash her face and falls in. When she comes to herself again, she finds herself in a crystal ball under the hands of a beautiful spring woman, whose hair she has to comb. In exchange, she receives an expensive dress, and as often as she shakes her hair and combs it, shining flowers will fall out of it. And whenever she is in distress, she should throw herself down [the well] and find help from [the spring woman]. Then [the latter] also gives her a shepherd's staff that wards off wolves and robbers, a spinning wheel, and a distaff that spins on its own. Finally, [she gives her] a tame beaver, which is skilled in all sorts of tasks. When Woodchuck returns home in the evening with these gifts, the other daughter is supposed to earn the same gifts and jumps down into the spring. She lands, however, in swamp water and, because of her spitefulness, receives the gift of stinking reeds and rushes growing on her head. When she pulls one out, many more just grow. Only Woodchuck can banish the hateful adornment for twenty-four hours if she combs her, which she now has to do always. Thereupon follows Woodchuck's further story, for which other fairy tales are used. Every time, she is supposed to perform something dangerous, but through the aid of her magical objects, she accomplishes everything successfully.
The first fairy tale in the Brunswick collection has some overall similarities with this tale as does one in the Pentameron.
translated by Gary V. Hartman
© 1994, 2002 Gary V. Hartman
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1. [Margin Notes are translated from the Grimms' handwritten comments/alterations in the 1812/1815 edition of Kinder- und Hausmärchen, Gesammelt durch die Brüder Grimm (KHM). Marquardt and Rölleke references are translated from U. Marquardt and H. Rölleke, KHM, Transkriptionen und Kommentare, Göttingen, 1986/1996, p. 19.]
Trans. note: Although the German title is Frau Holle, the spelling has been changed to better approximate the German pronunciation, i.e., "Holl-uh."
Oddly, the Grimms do not mention Perrault's parallel tale, "The Fairies" (Trans. A. E. Johnson, Perrault's Complete Fairy Tales. London, Puffin Books, 1961/1999, pp. 39-43.). "The Fairies" possesses similar central motifs: a mother (widowed), two daughters (one beloved and one persecuted), a well/spring, and an otherworldly feminine figure, who rewards or punishes the daughters' behavior according to its merits.
2. Trans. note: Aschenputtel is the German, the same word as in the title of No. 21. "Drudge" is probably the best English translation for it.
3. [Footnote:] Therefore, when it snows in Hessia, people say: "Frau Holla is making her bed."
Trans. note: The Grimms were from Cassel, which is located in the state of Hessia. In fact, one still hears the expression in Hessia, especially in the countryside. Whether this derives from the fairy tale or from prevailing folklore is difficult to determine.
4. Margin note: [Insert]: . . . and the maiden was again above in the world and in her mother's yard. The cock sat on the well and called, "Cock-a-doodle-do, Our golden girl is here anew." Then she went inside to her mother . . .
5. Trans. note: "Beautiful" stood here in the original and was presumably a misprint.
6. Margin note: [Insert:] ". . . as she lived. But the cock also sat again on the well and called, 'Cock-a-doodle-do, Our dirty girl is here anew!'" (Goldman)
Trans. note: According to Marquardt and Rölleke, this is a reference to Georg August Friederich Goldman (1785-1855), whom Jack Zipes (The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, p. 727) says sent the Grimms several versions of tales from Hanover.
Margin note: Dortchen, October 13, 1811. In the garden.
Trans. note: Henriette Dorothea Wild. With her three sisters and mother, one of the Grimms important sources of stories. Wilhelm Grimm married her in 1825.
7. Trans. note: Translated from Kinder- und Hausmärchen, Gesammelt durch die Brüder Grimm, Vol. I, 1812/1815, pp. XVII-XIX.
8. Trans. note: The German here is Brunnen, which means both "well" and "spring." A well/spring plays a pivotal role in all versions of this story, including Perrault's "The Fairies" from the French tradition. In general, I have translated Brunnen as "well," because "spring" does not evoke the imaginal quality of depth to the same degree. The descent to the underworld that occurs in many of the parallels, in other words, requires a depth dimension. Here, however, a further image complicates translation: "spring woman" is more accurate an image than "well woman," it seems to me.
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