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ashamed of her daughters gluttony； the mother replied； 〃seven spindles of hemp！ i have a daughter so crazy about work that shed even spin the wool on the sheeps back！ can you imagine that shes already spun seven spindles of hemp this morning and still wants to spin？ to make her stop； i have to beat her。〃
〃if shes that hard…working； give her to me；〃 said the young man。 〃ill try her out to see if youre telling the truth and then ill marry her。〃
he took her to his house and shut her up in a room full of hemp waiting to be spun。 〃im a sea captain； and im leaving on a voyage；〃 he said。 〃if youve spun all this hemp by the time i return； ill marry you。〃
the room also contained exquisite clothes and jewels； for the captain happened to be very rich。 〃when you bee my wife；〃 he explained； 〃these things will all be yours。〃 then he left her。
the girl spent her days trying on dresses and jewels and admiring herself in the mirror。 she also devoted much time to planning meals； which the household servants prepared for her。 none of the hemp was spun yet； and in one more day the captain would be back。 the girl gave up all hope of ever marrying him and burst into tears。 she was still crying when through the window flew a bundle of rags and came to rest on its feet： it was an old woman with long eyelashes。 〃dont be afraid；〃 she told the girl。 〃ive e to help you。 ill spin while you make the skein。〃
you never saw anyone spin with the speed of that old woman。 in just a quarter of an hour she had spun every bit of hemp。 and the more she spun； the longer her lashes became； longer than her nose； longer than her chin； they came down more than a foot； and her eyelids also grew much longer。
when the work was finished； the girl said； 〃how can i repay you； my good lady？〃
〃i dont want to be repaid。 just invite me to your wedding banquet when you marry the captain。〃
〃how do i go about inviting you？〃
〃just call columbina and ill e。 but heaven help you if you forget my name。 it would be as though id never helped you； and youd be undone。〃
the next day the captain arrived and found the hemp all spun。 〃excellent！〃 he said。 〃i believe youre just the bride i was seeking。 here are the clothes and jewels i bought for you。 but now i have to go on another voyage。 lets have a second test。 heres twice the amount of hemp i gave you before。 if you spin it all by the time i return； ill marry you。〃
as she had done before； the girl spent her time trying on gowns and jewels； eating soup and lasagna； and got to the last day with all the hemp still waiting to be spun。 she was weeping over it when； lo and behold； something dropped down the chimney； and into the room rolled a bundle of rags。 it came to rest on its feet； and there stood an old woman with sagging lips。 this one too promised to help； began spinning； and worked even faster than the other old woman。 the more she spun； the more her lips sagged。 when the hemp was all spun in a half…hour； the old woman asked only to be invited to the wedding banquet。 〃just call columbara。 but dont forget my name； or my help will have been in vain and you will suffer。〃
the captain returned and asked before he even got into the house； 〃did you spin it all？〃
〃i just now finished！〃
〃take these clothes and jewels。 now； if i e back from my third voyage and find youve spun this third load of hemp； which is much bigger than the other two； i promise well get married at once。〃
as usual； the girl waited until the last day without touching the hemp。 down from the roofs gutter fell a bundle of rags； and out came an old woman with buckteeth。 she began spinning； spinning even faster； and the more she spun； the longer grew her teeth。
〃to invite me to your wedding banquet；〃 said the old woman； 〃you must call columbun。 but if you forget my name； it would be better if youd never seen me。〃
when the captain came home and found the hemp all spun； he was pletely satisfied。 〃fine；〃 he said； 〃now you will be my wife。〃 he ordered preparations made for the wedding； to which he invited all the nobility in town。
caught up in the preparations； the bride thought no more of the old women。 on the morning of the wedding she remembered that she was supposed to invite them； but when she went to pronounce their names； she found they had slipped her mind。 she cudgeled her brains but； for the life of her； couldnt recall a single name。
from the cheerful girl she was； she sank into a state of bottomless gloom。 the captain noticed it and asked her what the matter was； but she would say nothing。 unable to account for her sadness； the bridegroom thought； this is perhaps not the right day。 he therefore postponed the wedding until the day after。 but the next day was still worse； and the day following we wont even mention。 with every day that passed； the bride became gloomier and quieter； with her brows knit in concentration。 he told her jokes and stories in an effort to make her laugh； but nothing he said or did affected her。
since he couldnt cheer her up； he decided to go hunting and cheer himself up。 right in the heart of the woods he was caught in a storm and took refuge in a hovel。 he was in there in the dark； when he heard voices：
〃o columbina！〃
〃o columbara！〃
〃o columbun！〃
〃put on the pot to make polenta！ that confounded bride wont be inviting us to her banquet after all！〃
the captain wheeled around and saw three crones。 one had eyelashes that dragged on the ground； another lips that hung down to her feet； and the third teeth that grazed her knees。
well； well； he thought to himself。 now i can tell her something that will make her laugh。 if she doesnt laugh over what ive just seen； shell never laugh at anything！
he went home and said to his bride； 〃just listen to this。 today i was in the woods and went into a hovel to get out of the rain。 i go in and what should i see but three crones： one with eyelashes that dragged on the ground； another with lips that hung down to her feet； and the third with teeth that grazed her knees。 and they called each other： o columbina； o columbara； o columbun！〃
the brides face brightened instantly； and she burst out laughing； and laughed a