The girl who would be queen
The farmer Humbrid, who always addressed his children as princesses and prince, and his wife Heglewyth enjoyed prosperity on their farm near the village called Vesta in a land long ago and far-away. They had four children, Goldina, the oldest, followed by sisters, Brivina and Chelsinia and their brother, Ernost. They led a happy, contented life that is all except Goldina who dreamed of someday becoming a queen.
In fact, Goldina became so obsessed by this desire that she spent every waking hour reflecting on it. She pretended she descended from royalty and her place in this farm family was some sort of freakish thing. She pretended so long that she convinced herself this of the reality of her pretense. And of course, since she considered herself royalty, living on a farm left her with great discontent.
As time went on Heglewyth, a very good wife and mother, perceived her daughter’s joylessness and attempted to console her. “Why are you so unhappy, my dear?” she asked.
“Well, Father calls me his princess, and if I am really a princess I am meant to be a queen someday. This will never happen when I live on a farm.” Goldina sobbed.
Her mother wiped away the girl’s tears. “But dear, it’s okay to dream and to hope your dreams come true, but don’t let your dreams rob you of the good things all around you.”
Goldina looked into her mother’s eyes. “But is there anything to make my hope come true?”
Heglewyth smiled. “There exists a flower, unlike any other. Its petals shine like gold with a light of their own. Wish on this fairy flower and it will come to pass. ”
“Where do I find this fairy flower, Mother?” the girl asked.
“You will find it in the fairest of meadows,” her mother replied hoping that Goldina would find distraction in the beauty of nature.
After that Goldina accompanied her siblings on as they frolicked in the many fine meadows in their country. This pleased her mother greatly. While Bivina, Chelsinia, and Ernost played, Goldina searched for the perfect flower to wish upon.
After many months she found what she searched for. While the Autumn chill caused lesser flowers to wither one stood out. Its golden petals shined in the evening dusk. She picked it and without showing it to her siblings carried it home and placed it under her bed-pillow. That night she made her wish. “O, fairy of this flower, grant me my desire.”
No sooner had she mouthed these words than a globe of light appeared above her bed. A fairy floated within the globe. “Taker of my flower, I, Dimplesprite, have come to grant your wish. What is it?” the fairy asked.
“O good fairy,” Goldina replied, “I so want to be queen, but I was not born in a royal family, so my wish is for me to meet a prince who will ask me to be his wife.”
Dimplesprite waved her hands. “First, I must tell you one thing. You should not have plucked my flower. As it will shrivel and die so will your wish. Your wish will come true, but it will not be as you hope.”
Goldina heard only the words that her wish would come true and ignored the part about it not being as she hoped. “But what proof do you give me that you keep your word?” she asked.
As Dimplesprite and the globe began to fade she spoke these words, “Go to the meadow where you found my flower. In the middle of it is a lone tree. Under this tree you will uncover a pot of gold, enough to change your fortune.”
Goldina shook her head. I’ll get my wish. My prince will come and ask me to wed him. How can that go wrong? It falls on me to make certain it doesn’t.
The next day Goldina hurried to the tree in the meadow, uncovered the pot of gold, carried it home and hid it underneath a floorboard in her father’s barn. She reasoned within herself, If I show this to everyone, I’ll be forced to share it. I’ll wait until I’m old enough to be on my own. Then, I’ll use it to change my fortune.
On her eighteenth birthday, Goldina announced her intention to leave home. Her mother pleaded for her to stay until she married, but the headstrong girl refused.
“What will you do for a living?” asked the good woman.
Goldina smiled at her. “I have something, don’t you worry about me.” The next day, she left with her pot of gold the most of which she spent on a fine house and clothes worthy of royalty. Then she waited for her prince to come.
She did not have long to wait. Word got around that a princess lived in Vesta. Princes came to her door. They courted her, but once they discovered she had not been born a princess they deserted her.
Of course, Goldina became angry and returned to the meadow of the fairy flower. A new one bloomed in its place. She demanded Dimplesprite to show herself.
Now the good fairy having granted the girl’s wish had no obligation to grant another, but appeared, nonetheless. “What is it my dear?” she asked.
“I have used the gold to change my fortune and princes come to my door, but none have asked me to marry him.’ Goldina’s face wrinkled.
“I’m not sure you have changed your fortune with my gold,” replied the fairy. “But as for the prince, be patient and he will come.”
Goldina returned home with nothing else she could do. She waited, but no more princes came. Her money ran out. She raised chickens and pigs to support herself all the while wondering if Dimplesprite had let her down.
One day in the season best in which to travel, a visitor in weathered clothes arrived at her door. He begged for supper and a corner to sleep for the night. Since he offered money for her inconvenience she granted his request. The following week the stranger returned as he did for several weeks in succession. Despite his rough appearance he possessed a fair face and a kind countenance unlike the haughtiness of the princes Goldina had met. She developed a fondness for this young man who was about her own age and looked forward to his visits. She said, Yes,” when he invited her on walks with him. They visited the same meadows where her siblings had frolicked while she searched for the fairy flower.
One day the traveler knelt before her. “I roam in search of true love, and the reason I keep returning here because, I have developed a fondness for you, and I perceive you for me. Is this not love? Will you be my bride?”
This question that ought to have brought Goldina great joy caused her great turmoil. Should she marry this traveler and give up her dream of becoming queen? She told him she needed to consider his proposal until the following day. He left sorrowful and again even more sorrowful when she told him the answer. “No.”
That night, Dimplesprite returned. She hovered above Goldina’s bed. “Your wish has been fulfilled and you refused.”
Goldina shook her head. “I was asked to marry, true, but that was no prince.”
She heard these words as the fairy faded from view. “Not all is as it seems.”
Goldina hung her head in silence as the truth sunk in.
In the meantime, the traveler returned home to his father’s kingdom where he met a worthy maid and was wed.