Two Stepsisters
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
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Once upon a time, in a quiet village, there lived two stepsisters who could not have been more different. One was kind, hardworking, and gentle, while the other was selfish, lazy, and full of spite. Their stepmother, a harsh and bitter woman, favored her own daughter and treated the kind stepsister cruelly. While the selfish girl was pampered and given every comfort, the kind girl was forced to do all the hardest chores—fetching water, gathering firewood, and working from dawn until nightfall.
Despite this, the kind stepsister never complained. She endured her suffering with patience, keeping faith that goodness would be rewarded in time. But her stepmother grew tired of her presence and, one day, decided to be rid of her. "You are nothing but trouble in this house," the woman sneered. "Go out into the world and seek your fortune elsewhere!"
Heartbroken but hopeful, the girl set off down the road, not knowing where she would go. As she walked, she came across a thin, sickly dog lying in the dust. "Oh, kind girl," the dog whimpered, "will you help me? I am weak and cannot care for myself."
The girl knelt beside the poor creature, gently brushing the dust from its fur and feeding it the small piece of bread she had saved for herself. "Rest, little one. I hope you grow strong again," she said before continuing on her way.
Not long after, she came upon a pear tree whose branches drooped under the weight of writhing caterpillars. "Oh, kind girl," the tree called, "please rid me of these pests, and I will reward you one day."
With great care, the girl plucked away the caterpillars, brushing them into the grass so the tree could thrive once more. "Grow strong and bear sweet fruit," she whispered before moving on.
Farther down the road, she found a dry and crumbling fountain. "Oh, kind girl," it murmured, "clean me, and I will repay your kindness."
She scooped out the dirt and polished the fountain’s stones, allowing fresh, clear water to bubble up once more. Then, she walked on, feeling a sense of peace in her heart.
At last, she came upon a small house covered in ivy. An old woman with wise eyes stepped out to greet her. "My child, what brings you here?"
"I seek work and shelter," the girl replied humbly.
"Then you shall have both," the old woman said. "But first, you must care for my children. Bathe them, feed them, and tend to my home, and you will not leave here empty-handed."
Grateful for a place to stay, the girl worked diligently. The next morning, the old woman revealed her true self. She was the Goddess of Sunday."Because of your kindness and patience, I grant you a chest as your reward," she said, revealing a large and a small chest. "But do not open it until you reach your father’s home."
The girl chose the smallest chest and set off. On her way home, she passed the places where she had shown kindness. The pear tree had flourished, its branches heavy with golden fruit, and it bent down to offer her as many pears as she wished. The fountain, now full and clear, provided her with a silver goblet to drink from. The dog, now strong and healthy, ran to her side, a golden collar of coins around its neck. "These are your rewards," each one told her.
Finally, she reached home, where her father welcomed her with tears of joy. When she opened the chest, treasures, gold, jewels, and fine silks poured out. Her days of hardship were over.
But when her stepmother and stepsister saw her newfound fortune, greed burned in their hearts. "If she received such riches, imagine what I shall bring back!" the selfish stepsister boasted.
She set off down the same road, but when she met the sick dog, the pear tree, and the dry fountain, she scoffed at their pleas. "Do you think I will dirty my hands for you?" she sneered, walking past without a care.
At last, she arrived at the old woman’s house. But unlike her stepsister, she refused to lift a finger. The children she was meant to care for ran crying from her harshness, and the food she cooked was burnt and inedible. The next morning, the Goddess of Sunday shook her head. "You have no kindness in your heart, yet you shall have what you came for. Choose a chest and go."
The selfish girl seized the largest and most beautiful chest, hurrying home with greedy delight. But when she opened it, a great swarm of creatures, serpents, goblins, and shrieking spirits burst forth, swallowing her and her mother in their fury. And just like that, they vanished, never to be seen again.
The kind girl, now free from cruelty, lived a life of happiness, never forgetting that true fortune lies not in riches but in the goodness of one’s heart.
“Roumanian Fairy Tales.” Gutenberg.org, 2021, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/20552/pg20552-images.html#The_Two_Step-Sisters. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.