Once upon a time there was a mother, who had a stepdaughter and a daughter of her own. Her own daughter was a malicious girl, whereas her stepdaughter was a virtuous girl. One day, the good girl, whose name was Bertha, had to get water from the well. As she arrived at the well, there was an old woman sitting on the edge who asked her for something to drink.

Bertha was very kind and gave her something to drink, whereupon the old woman said, "You're such a good girl. I am a fairy. Today, if you go home, rubies, pearls, and other precious stones will come from your mouth with every word you speak."

Immediately after she had spoken, the fairy vanished into thin air.

When Bertha went home, her stepmother was angry because she had not returned at once. Now Bertha told of the old woman, and with every word diamonds and pearls fell from her mouth.

The next day, the mother said to her angry daughter Anna, "Today you have to get water and obtain the same valuables as a reward."

Anna wasn't used to chores like getting water, and she left in a bad mood. This time, there was a distinguished looking lady sitting near the well and she said, "You girl, give me something to drink."

Anna, unaware of the fact that this was the same fairy, got angry and replied, "If you want something to drink, get it yourself!"

"Phooey, what a nasty girl you are," the fairy said. "With every word you speak, toads, worms, and other such vermin will come from your mouth."

When she got home, her mother said, "Now speak, and show me those treasures."

Anna, however, was angry and tried to speak as little as possible, but after a while all kinds of nasty vermin left her mouth anyway.

Then the stepmother exclaimed that Bertha was to blame for it all, and she chased her off into the woods. Poor Bertha got lost, and as it became dark, she saw the light of a little house in the distance. The door was open. She called, but there was no one home. There were dirty plates and leftovers on the table. She was hungry, so she took some food. Next, she neatly cleaned the dishes.

There were seven beds. She made them up, and then started to clean up the whole house. Finally, she cooked soup for the next day and went up to the small attic to sleep, because she was exhausted.

Some time later seven monkeys came home. One exclaimed, "How tidy has this place become!" Another said, "How excellent does this soup taste!" And a third said, "How soft does my bed feel!"

Then they went to sleep, and Bertha quietly left the house again.

The next morning the seven monkeys woke up, and they searched the house for the person who had tidied up their place so well, but they couldn't find anybody. They said, "Whoever did this must certainly be a virtuous girl, fit to marry a prince."

Since she was tired, Bertha had fallen asleep in the woods again. The fairy touched her, and she became as beautiful as a princess.

A prince, who happened to be hunting in the woods, found her and instantly fell in love with her.

Bertha woke up, and the prince asked her to follow him to the court and marry him. The prince obtained the approval of the king and queen. And so they married and lived happily ever after.