Lieschen

Lieschen is a German-language children's book written by the Brothers Grimm. It is the 13th tale in their collection of fairy tales, titled "Kinder- und Hausmärchen" (Children's and Household Tales). The story is known for its simple and straightforward narrative, making it accessible to young readers.

The tale begins with Lieschen, a young girl who is sent to fetch water from a well. As she approaches the well, she encounters a wolf who is sitting at the water's edge. The wolf, who is actually a disguised prince, asks Lieschen to bring him a drink of water. Lieschen, being kind and trusting, obliges and brings him water. The prince, grateful for her kindness, promises to reward her.

The prince then transforms back into his human form and reveals that he is the king's son. He asks Lieschen to return to her home and tell her mother to bake him a cake. Lieschen does as she is told, and the prince returns, this time in the form of a rooster. He asks Lieschen to return to her home and tell her mother to bake him another cake. Lieschen does so, and the prince returns once more, this time as a monkey. He asks Lieschen to return to her home and tell her mother to bake him one last cake.

Lieschen, despite the strange requests, continues to obey the prince. When she returns home with the final cake, she finds her mother dead and her father in a state of despair. The prince, now revealed as a wicked stepmother, had tricked Lieschen into baking the cakes, which were actually poisoned. Lieschen, in her innocence, had unwittingly contributed to her mother's death.

The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trusting strangers and the importance of questioning unusual requests. It also highlights the theme of innocence and the consequences of naivety. Lieschen's story is a reminder that kindness and trust should be earned and not given freely.