Once upon a time, there was a widower who had a son and a daughter from his first wife. They were both good children and loved each other dearly. After some time, the man remarried, choosing a widow with one daughter who was both ugly and wicked, just like her mother. From the day the new wife entered the house, the man's children found no peace and couldn't find a corner to rest. So, the boy decided the best thing he could do was to go out into the world and try to earn his own living.

After wandering for a while, he arrived at the King's palace, where he got a job under the coachman. He was very lively and active, and the horses he cared for were so well-fed and sleek that they shone.

But his sister, who stayed at home, had a much harder time. Her stepmother and stepsister constantly criticized her, no matter what she did or where she went. They scolded and mistreated her so much that she never had a moment's peace. They made her do all the hard work, and harsh words were all she got, with little food to accompany them.

One day, they sent her to the brook to fetch some water, and an ugly, horrible head rose from the water and said, "Wash me, girl!"