Retold by The Legendary Connection

TLC#00208

One night, a woman sat at her spinning wheel, spinning wool into yarn. She spun and spun, wishing for some company.

Suddenly, a pair of broad, broad feet entered and settled by the fireside. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

Next came a pair of small, small legs, which sat down upon the broad feet. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

Then a pair of thick, thick knees appeared, settling on the small legs. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

In came a pair of thin, thin thighs, which sat on top of the thick knees. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

Next entered a pair of huge, huge hips, which rested on the thin thighs. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

Then a wee, wee waist arrived, sitting atop the huge hips. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

A pair of broad, broad shoulders then came, setting down on the tiny waist. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

In came a pair of small, small arms, which sat upon the broad shoulders. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

Next, huge, huge hands appeared and sat down on the small arms. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

Then a small, small neck arrived and sat on the broad shoulders. Still, she spun, and still, she wished for company.

Finally, a huge, huge head appeared and sat on the small neck.

The woman stopped and asked, “How did you get such broad, broad feet?”

“I’ve done much walking,” it answered. (speak gruffly)

“And how did you get such small, small legs?”

“Oooooh-h-h! Ahhhhh!... too late… sooooo hungry,” it answered, (whine)

“How did you get such thick, thick knees?”

“I’ve done much praying,” it replied piously. (speak gruffly)

“And those thin, thin thighs?”

“Oooooh-h-h! Ahhhhh!... too late… sooooo hungry,” it moaned. (whine)

“What about your big, big hips?”

“I’ve done much sitting,” it answered. (speak gruffly)

“And such a wee, wee waist?”

“Oooooh-h-h! Ahhhhh!... too late… sooooo hungry,” it said. (whine)

“How did you get such broad, broad shoulders?”

“I’ve been carrying brooms,” it said. (speak gruffly)

“And such small, small arms?”

“Oooooh-h-h! Ahhhhh!... too late… sooooo hungry,” it replied. (whine)

“And those huge, huge hands?”

“Threshing with an iron flail, threshing with an iron flail,” it answered. (speak gruffly)

“And how did you get such a small, small neck?”

“Aih-h-h!... too late… too little to eat,” it replied. (whine)

“And finally, that huge, huge head?”

“Much knowledge, much knowledge,” it said keenly.

“Why are you here?” the woman asked.

“For YOU!” it bellowed. (Raise an arm and stamp your f feet with a great shout.

Original Source: “English Fairy Tales.” Gutenberg.org, 2021, https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7439/pg7439-images.html#link2H_4_0034. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.