The three spinners

once upon a time there was a girl called Arabella who could not use a spinning wheel. Every time she tried, her thread would break or become knotted and tangled.

 This made her mother very angry. “You are such a useless girl!" she would shout at her. “Why can't you spin beautiful flaxen thread like your cousins?” You see, her mother was Sashamed of her because in those days all girl knew how to spin.

Arabella would reply, “I hate spinning, mother. My fingers are too small and spinning hurts them so much. I cannot do it!” Then she would throw herself down, sobbing and crying pitifully. One day the queen was passing by in her carriage and she heard Arabella crying.

She was so alarmed by the sobbing that she stopped the carriage, came into the house and asked the mother why her daughter was in such distress. Too ashamed to say that her daughter was unable to spin she answered,“Oh your Majesty, my daughter loves to spin.

She is only happy when she is spinning but sadly, there is no more flax to spin and I cannot afford to buy any.” “There is nothing I like better than to hear the humming of a spinning wheel. Let me take your daughter with me to the palace.

I have plenty of flax and she can spin to her heart's delight." The mother had no choice but to let her daughter go.

When they arrived at the castle, Arabella was shown three rooms piled from top to bottom with the finest flax. “Now, spin me this flax,” ordered the queen. “When you have spun it beautifully into thread you shall marry the prince, my eldest son.

"Arabella had charmed the queen with her gentle ways and delicate appearance.The queen believed she Swould make a wonderful bride for Prince Leon.Poor Arabella was terrified.She could not have spunthe flax had she sat there day and night for a hundred years. When she was left alone she wept and did nothing.

on the third day the queen came and when she saw that no flax had been spun, she was surprised. Arabella explained that she was so sad at having left her home that she had not been able to begin.

This satisfied the queen but as she left she said, “Now you must start spinning for me tomorrow.” Arabella was left alone and did not know what to do or where to turn for help.

She So began to cry. How could she escape this impossible task? She looked out of the window and there she saw three strange women coming towards her. The first one had a big, broad, flat foot. The second one had?a large, lower lip that hung down to her chin. The third one had a flat,fat thumb.

Arabella led them to the first room filled with flax. The three women sat down at the spinning wheel and set about their spinning.Arabella was amazed at how fast they worked.

The first one pulled the thread and peddled the wheel with her big, broad flat foot. The second one licked the thread with her large, lower lip and the third twisted and pressed it with her flat, fat thumb.Soon they had spun all the flax into beautiful fine, flaxen, thread.

Then they began work on the second room which was very soon empty and finally, so was the third. When the job was done the three strange women said goodbye. “Now, Arabella,” they said, “remember what you have promised us and it will bring you good luck.”

Arabellan thansed them from the bottom of her heart and said that she would never forget their kindness.

when the queen arrived, Arabella showed her the beautifully spun flaxen thread. The queen was
overjoyed and praised her for her fine work. Arabella was then introduced to Prince Leon and they immediately fell in love. So, the Royal Wedding was announced.

Did Arabella forget her promise? No, she did not!She asked if her three dear cousins could be invited to the wedding. “Certainly," replied the queen, “why ever would I say no?” Arabella thanked her and sent out the invitations.

On the day of the Royal Wedding there was great excitement. The feast at the palace began and when the three strange women entered Arabella greeted
them saying,

"Welcome dearest cousins.Please come and sit beside us at our table.”The cousins joined the wedding party but Prince Leon was shocked by their appearance and asked the first, “Why have you such a big, broad flat foot?”
“From pedalling a spinning wheel” she replied.

Then he asked the second, “Why have you such a large lower lip?” “From licking the thread,” she answered. To the third he asked, “Why have you such a flat, fat thumb?” The third put her thumb in the air and exclaimed, “From twisting and pressing the thread.”

“Good heavens!” thought

the Prince. He then took hold of his bride's delicate hands and looking into her sweet gentle face said, “My lovely
bride must never, ever again use a spinning wheel as long as she lives."

Arabella glanced at her cousins and realising her good fortune smiled to herself. I think her mother would have been proud of her, don't you? After all, spinning is not for everyone.

The end

thanks you for reading until the end.