Once upon a time, there was an old man and an old woman living together. Each of them had a daughter. The woman`s daughter was lazy, grumpy and cold-hearted, but because she was her mother`s daughter, she avoided work whenever she could. Instead, she always charged the man`s daughter to do back-breaking work. The old man`s daughter was beautiful, obedient and kind-hearted. The kind girl was always put down by the old woman and her daughter, but she was very strong and patient to handle it.
The man`s girl was doing all the house work and different tasks given by her step-mother and her daughter. The woman treated her daughter like a princess who shouldn`t work because someone else could do all the work in their house.
When the girls went together to traditional gatherings (where women sewed, spun wool and sang folk songs) the kind girl always made a lot of wool threads, while the bad girl couldn’t do that. When the girls returned home, the bad girl took all the wool from her stepsister assuring her parents that it was she doing all this work and her sister did nothing. Maybe the old man believed his daughter, but he wasn`t able to defend his child against the woman and her daughter.
Finally, giving in to his wife`s pressure, the man called his daughter and told her to leave their house because her stepmother and stepsister complained about her all the time. He advised her to be kind, obedient and hardworking wherever she went. Sad and with tears in her eyes, the girl kissed her father`s hand and left her home without any hope of returning.
After walking for a while, she met a sick and hungry dog who asked her for help. She felt sorry for it, washed it and took good care of it.
Later, she found a pear tree which was beautiful, blooming, but covered with caterpillars. The tree asked the girl to clean it and promised it will repay her someday. The diligent girl cleaned it and made it strong again.
Next, she found a dirty and abandoned well. She cleaned it and made it useful again. She also repaired an old broken oven. After working hard, she made it look as good as new.
Finally, in a small house she met Saint Sunday who offered her work and shelter. She asked the girl to wash and feed her children and prepare a meal. The girl worked hard and completed all the tasks.
As a reward, Saint Sunday allowed her to choose a chest from the attic. The girl chose the oldest and ugliest one because she was not greedy.
On her way home, the oven rewarded her with fresh pies. She ate some and took a few with her. The well gave her cool water and two silver cups. She drank the water and took the cups with her. The pear tree was full of ripe, sweet pears. It bent its branches so she could easily pick some fruit. The dog was now healthy and strong. It thanked the girl by giving her a necklace made of gold.
The girl returned home and gave the gifts to her father. When they opened the chest, it was filled with great riches, and everyone was amazed.
The stepmother`s rude and lazy daughter, full of jealousy, decided to follow the same way to become rich. On her way she met the same characters. The dog, the pear tree, the well and the oven all asked for help, but the girl refused and mocked them.
When the girl reached Saint Sunday`s house she behaved badly. Even though she failed all the tasks and made a mess, the mistress of the house still allowed her to choose a chest. Being greedy, she picked the newest and most beautiful one.
On her way home, she tried to take some pies from the oven, but the fire burned and she got nothing. She wanted to drink water from the well and take the silver cups but the cups disappeared and the well dried up. When she tried to pick some pears, the tree grew too tall to reach. The dog had the gold necklace, but when the girl tried to take it, she got bitten.
The girl returned home angry and disappointed. When she and her mother opened the chest, dragons came out and devoured them.
The old man and his daughter lived peacefully and enjoyed their wealth. Later the girl married a kind and hardworking man.
The Rose Collective 
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