The Old Woman in the Wood (Grimm)
Division into chapters is editorial.
The robber attack and the magical doves aid
A poor servant-girl was traveling through a great forest with the family she served when disaster struck. Robbers emerged from the thicket and murdered everyone they found, including the family.
Only the girl survived, having jumped from the carriage in fright and hidden behind a tree. After the robbers departed with their booty, she emerged to witness the terrible scene. Overcome with despair, she wept bitterly and cried out:
What can a poor girl like me do now? I do not know how to get out of the forest, no human being lives in it, so I must certainly starve.
She searched desperately for a road but found none. As evening approached, she seated herself under a tree, commended herself to God's protection, and resolved to wait there regardless of what might happen. While she sat in despair, a white dove flew to her carrying a small golden key in its mouth.
The dove placed the key in her hand and spoke:
Dost thou see that great tree, therein is a little lock, it opens with the tiny key, and there thou wilt find food enough, and suffer no more hunger.
Following the dove's instructions, she opened the tree and discovered milk in a little dish and white bread, allowing her to eat her fill. When satisfied, she expressed her weariness. The dove returned with another golden key, directing her to open another tree where she found a beautiful white bed. She prayed for God's protection and slept peacefully. The next morning, the dove brought a third key, leading her to garments adorned with gold and jewels, more splendid than any king's daughter possessed.
The quest for the plain ring and the princes liberation
The girl lived contentedly in this manner for some time, with the dove providing for all her needs daily. It was indeed a quiet, good life. One day, however, the dove approached her with a special request, asking if she would do something for its sake. She readily agreed with all her heart. The dove then gave her detailed instructions: she must go to a small house where an old woman would greet her, but she must give no answer and pass by on the right side. In a room beyond, she would find many rings, including magnificent ones with shining stones, but she must seek out only a plain ring and bring it back quickly.
The girl went to the little house as instructed. There sat an old woman who stared at her arrival and said, 'Good day my child.' Following the dove's warning, the girl gave no answer and opened the door.
The old woman cried out 'Whither away,' and seized her gown, trying to hold her fast while declaring:
That is my house; no one can go in there if I choose not to allow it... But the girl was silent, got away from her, and went straight into the room.
Inside the room lay an enormous quantity of rings that gleamed and glittered before her eyes. She searched through them for the plain ring but could not find it. While seeking, she noticed the old woman stealing away with a birdcage in her hand. The girl pursued her and took the cage away. When she lifted it up and looked inside, she discovered a bird holding the plain ring in its bill. She took the ring and ran joyously home, expecting the white dove to come for it, but it did not appear. She leaned against a tree to wait for the dove, and suddenly something magical occurred.
And suddenly the branches twined around her, and were two arms, and when she looked round, the tree was a handsome man, who embraced and kissed her heartily.
The tree had transformed into a handsome man who explained the enchantment:
Thou hast delivered me from the power of the old woman, who is a wicked witch. She had changed me into a tree, and every day for two hours I was a white dove.
He revealed that as long as the witch possessed the ring, he could not regain his human form. His servants and horses, who had likewise been transformed into trees, were also freed from the enchantment and stood beside him. The prince led them all forth to his kingdom, where he and the servant-girl married and lived happily ever after.