Reading Notes: The Dirty Shepherdess

Once upon a time, there was a King who had two daughters and loved them so much. When they grew up, he suddenly wanted to to know if they truly loved him back. He decided he would give his kingdom to the daughter who best proved her devotion to him.

He asked the oldest daughter how much she loved him. "As the apple of my eye!" she answered. "You are indeed a good daughter!" he responded.

He asked the youngest daughter how much she loved him. "I look upon you, my father as I look upon salt in my food," she answered. The king did not like her answer. He ordered her to quit the court and to never see him again. The princess went up to her room and started to cry. She grabbed her belongings and left the castle. She walked on the road and didn't know where she was going or what she would do. She didn't learn how to do anything except follow household rules and dishes. She was determined to make herself as ugly as possible in order to gain work.

She put on horrible rags covered in mud and smeared mud all over her body. She went around and offered herself to people but people turned her away because she was so dirty. After many days of this, she came across a farm where a shepherdess engaged her.

One day, she was keeping track of her sheep and missed dressing in fancy clothes. She washed herself and put on her old fancy clothes and transformed herself into a lady. The King's son, who got lost hunting, saw her and thought she was lost too. As soon as she saw him, she fled into the woods. The Prince ran after her but couldn't catch her.

When she was safe, she put on her rags again and smeared mud on her face. The Prince found his way to the farm tired and thirsty. He asked for the name of the beautiful shepherdess and everyone started laughing because the shepherdess was so ugly.

The Dirty Shepherdess by Andrew Lang.

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