The Three Daughters Fairy Tale

Long ago there lived a mother who had three daughters. She loved them with all her heart and gave them everything she had. The daughters grew up, got married and went to live in their own homes.

One day the mother fell very ill. She called a squirrel and said, "Run to my daughters and ask them to come to me." The squirrel hopped off to the eldest daughter.

The eldest daughter was polishing a copper basin. "I can't come until I have finished my basin," she said. The squirrel grew angry. "Then never be parted from your basin!" At once the basin stuck to her back, and she turned into a turtle.

The middle daughter was weaving cloth. "I can't come until I finish my weaving," she said. "Then weave for the rest of your life!" said the squirrel. The middle daughter turned into a spider, and she is still weaving webs to this day.

The youngest daughter was kneading dough. As soon as she heard her mother was ill, she ran to her without even wiping her hands. She hugged her mother and did not leave her side.

The mother thanked her youngest daughter. "Bring people nothing but joy, and may everyone love you." The youngest daughter became a bee and brings people sweet honey. And people love her for it.