Rumpelstiltskin

A miller bragged to the king. He said his daughter could spin straw into gold. The king's eyes grew wide with want. "Bring her to my castle," he said.

The king led her to a room piled high with straw. "Spin it into gold by morning," he said. He locked the door and walked away. She sat down and cried.

The door swung open. A tiny, funny little man hobbled inside. "Why do you weep?" he asked. "I must spin this straw into gold," she said.

"What will you give me if I spin it for you?" he asked. She gave him her necklace. He sat at the spinning wheel and sang: "Round about, round about, straw into gold!" By morning, every last straw gleamed.

The king wanted even more gold. He filled a bigger room with straw. The next night the little man returned for her ring. He sang: "Round about, round about, straw into gold!"

"Spin once more and you shall be my queen," said the king. But on the third night she had nothing left to give.

"Then promise me your first child," said the little man. She agreed. He sang: "Round about, round about, straw into gold!"

The king kept his word and married her. She became queen. When her baby was born, she held him close and smiled.

Then the little man came back to claim his promise. "Guess my name in three days," he said, "and you may keep your child."

The queen sent messengers far and wide to find names. One brought wonderful news. Deep in the forest, a little man danced around a fire. He sang: "Rumpelstiltskin is my name!"

When the little man arrived, the queen smiled. "Is your name Rumpelstiltskin?" He stamped his foot so hard he tumbled. Then he ran away forever.

The queen held her baby close in the quiet palace. She had been brave and clever, and that saved everything. A clever heart always finds a way.