The Old Woman in the Wood

In a time when dark forests held both danger and wonder, there lived a poor servant girl named Greta who possessed the most precious gift of all - a kind and generous heart. Though she had little to call her own, she always found ways to help others, and this goodness would soon lead her to an adventure beyond her wildest dreams.

The Journey Through the Forest

Greta was traveling with her mistress and several other servants through a dense forest when their carriage was attacked by robbers. In the chaos and confusion, everyone fled in different directions, and when the dust settled, Greta found herself alone and lost in the deep woods.

As night began to fall, Greta climbed high into an oak tree to sleep safely above any wild animals that might roam the forest floor. The branches were uncomfortable, and she was hungry and cold, but she thanked heaven that she was still alive and unhurt.

The next morning, Greta climbed down from the tree and began searching for a way out of the forest. She walked for hours through the twisted paths, growing hungrier and more worried with each passing moment.

The Encounter with the Old Woman

Just as Greta was beginning to despair, she came upon a small clearing where an ancient woman sat beside a tiny hut. The old woman was poorly dressed, with tangled gray hair and a face wrinkled with age. She looked as though she had not eaten a good meal in many days.

Though Greta was hungry herself, her kind heart was immediately moved by the old woman’s obvious need. “Good grandmother,” she said gently, “you look as though you could use some help. I have little to offer, but please take this bread from my pack.”

The old woman looked up with eyes that seemed to hold deep wisdom. “You are very kind, child. Most people who see me here turn away in fear, thinking I am just a bothersome old beggar. But you have shown me compassion.”

The Magical Revelation

As soon as the old woman ate the bread Greta had offered, a remarkable transformation began. Her rags turned into fine robes, her tangled hair became lustrous and silver, and her wrinkled face smoothed into ageless beauty. She stood tall and proud, radiating power and majesty.

“I am a powerful fairy,” she explained to the amazed Greta, “and I was testing the hearts of those who pass through my forest. You have shown true kindness without thought of reward, and such goodness must be blessed.”

The fairy waved her hand, and the tiny hut transformed into a magnificent cottage filled with every comfort. “This shall be your home,” she told Greta, “and you shall want for nothing. But first, you must help me with an important task.”

The Quest for the Ring

The fairy led Greta to a beautiful garden behind the cottage, where flowers of every color bloomed in perfect harmony. In the center of the garden stood a magnificent tree with golden leaves and silver branches.

“Hidden somewhere in this garden,” the fairy explained, “is a magical ring that was stolen from me by an evil witch. The ring appears as a simple wooden band, but it holds great power. You must find it and return it to me.”

Greta began searching through the garden carefully, looking under every flower and behind every bush. As she worked, she noticed that the garden was inhabited by many small creatures - birds, rabbits, mice, and insects - all of whom seemed to watch her with intelligent eyes.

The Helper’s Assistance

As Greta searched, a small white dove landed on her shoulder and began to coo softly. Something about the bird’s manner suggested it was trying to tell her something important.

“Are you trying to help me?” Greta asked the dove gently.

The bird flew to a particular rosebush and perched there, calling repeatedly. When Greta approached and looked carefully among the thorns, she discovered the wooden ring exactly where the dove had indicated.

“Thank you, little friend,” Greta said gratefully, petting the dove’s soft feathers before returning to the fairy with the recovered ring.

The Truth Revealed

When Greta presented the ring to the fairy, another magical transformation occurred. The white dove suddenly grew and changed, becoming a handsome young prince with kind eyes and a grateful smile.

“The dove was actually a prince,” the fairy explained, “who was cursed by the same evil witch who stole my ring. By finding the ring through kindness and with the help of the enchanted prince, you have broken both curses.”

The prince bowed deeply to Greta. “You have freed me from a terrible spell,” he said. “I have been trapped in bird form for three long years, unable to speak or explain my situation to anyone. Your gentle kindness to all creatures, even a simple dove, has saved me.”

The Reward of Kindness

The fairy smiled warmly at both young people. “Greta, your kind heart has not only freed this prince but has also proven that you possess the most valuable magic of all - the power of compassion. As a reward for your goodness, I offer you a choice.”

“You may have great wealth and return to your old life, living in luxury for all your days. Or you may choose to stay here in this magical realm, where you will have a different kind of richness - a life filled with purpose, magic, and the love of this grateful prince.”

The Choice of the Heart

Greta looked at the prince, whose eyes were full of admiration and growing love for the kind girl who had freed him. She thought about her old life as a servant, where she had been treated poorly despite her good nature.

“I choose to stay,” she said with certainty. “Wealth without love and purpose would be meaningless to me. Here I can continue to help others, and I can build a life with someone who values kindness as much as I do.”

The prince took her hand gently. “And I choose to devote my life to someone whose heart is as beautiful as her face,” he said. “Will you be my bride, dear Greta?”

The Royal Wedding

Greta and the prince were married in the fairy’s garden, with all the woodland creatures as witnesses. The fairy blessed their union and gave them dominion over a beautiful kingdom where kindness and justice would always prevail.

The cottage became a palace where the doors were always open to those in need. Greta, now a princess, used her position to help the poor and downtrodden, never forgetting her own humble beginnings.

The Lasting Magic

The fairy remained as their advisor and friend, and the magical garden became a place where lost travelers could always find help and shelter. The kingdom prospered under the rule of the kind-hearted princess and her grateful prince.

Years later, when people told the story of the Old Woman in the Wood, they would always emphasize that Greta’s greatest magic had not been granted by the fairy, but had been within her heart all along.

The Moral of Kindness

The tale became a beloved reminder that kindness to others, especially to those who seem to have little to offer in return, is never wasted. It taught that true magic lies in compassion, and that those who give generously of their hearts will find their generosity returned many times over.

Greta’s story showed that while we cannot always choose our circumstances, we can always choose to be kind, and that such choices have the power to transform not only our own lives but the lives of all those around us.

And so the old woman in the wood continued to test the hearts of travelers, always rewarding those who showed the same kindness that had made Greta a princess and brought two cursed souls their freedom.