In this story both men and women, rich and poor, are castigated as inept, disorganized, arrogant or meanspirited. Yet, there are exceptions, in this case, a woman who proves she possesses admirable qualities, thus wining her husband’s admiration.
One day, a queen who lived in a certain city said to her husband, the king, 'It is the woman who gives stature to a man. On hearing these words he turned angrily to her and said, "That's ridiculous, I am who I am through my own efforts, not yours. Get your clothes together, and leave this house.” And he threw her out.
For some time, the queen had watched from her window the life of a poor woodsman, his wife and seven daughters. Everything was so mismanaged and disorganized that she felt sorry for them. The poor man cut a load of wood each day, sold it in the marketplace, and bought wheat with the money earned. Then he would grind it into flour, and give it to his wife to make bread. But the daughters, who were unruly, made such a mess in the kitchen that she never finished kneading the dough, let alone bake it.
As soon as the queen left the king's palace, she went straight to the woodman's house. She knocked, and the woodsman opened the door. Without telling him who she was, she said, "I am a poor woman, kind sir, and I have nowhere to go. Can I stay here tonight?” “You are welcome to stay”, he said graciously. “There is little room in my house for I have seven daughters, but we can always make room for one more.” Then he added with a smile, “And you can be my eighth daughter.”
Life in the woodman's house continued as before. Each day, he cut wood, sold it, ground the wheat into flour, and gave it to his wife to make bread. One day, just as she
started to knead the dough, the queen said, "If you don't mind, I'd like to make the bread tonight." "If you like," said the wife, glad to be rid of the responsibility, and handed the queen the flour and yeast. As she began to knead, the seven daughters crowded around her, ready for their usual mischief. "Stop," she said, pushing them away, "don't touch the dough! I'm going to put it in the oven, and you can eat it when it is baked, and not before!" The girls were astounded, nobody had ever talked to them that way. Then the queen sat each one is his place, the daughters, the mother, and the father, and served them a regular meal with bread for the soup, meat and dessert. From then on, order reigned in the house.
One day it rained so hard, the woodsman brought his load of wood home instead of going to market. To fuel the kitchen fire, he threw in a few short logs. " What a peculiar smell," said the queen. "Let me see the wood," and she lifted a few splinters to her nose. "Oh, don't burn it.'" she said. "This is not ordinary firewood. If I am not mistaken, it is expensive sandalwood. Take it to the lumberyard and ask them how much it is worth."
And the queen was right. It was sandalwood, and the woodsman sold it for a high price. On her advice, he cut down many, many trees. So great was the demand for the precious wood that, in no time at all, he became a wealthy man. With the money earned, he purchased a large tract of land, built a luxurious home, and bought fine clothes and jewels for his wife and daughters.
When the house was finished, the woodsman celebrated with a
huge party. "Please invite the king to the opening," said the
queen. A formal invitation was delivered to the palace, and
the king, who liked to be in touch with his people, accepted.
The queen prepared all the king's favorite dishes, the salty
ones, the sweet and the spicy ones that she had made when she
lived with him. When everything was ready, she bathed and dressed
herself in the same clothes she wore the day she left the palace.
"When the king sits down at the table," she said to the woodsman,
"don't forget to say these words to him, "It is the woman who
gives stature to the man."
As soon as the king arrived at the woodsman's house, he was ushered into the dining room, and placed at a special table. Then the servants brought in platter after platter of his favorite dishes. "Who made this banquet?" he asked, completely taken by surprise. "My cook, your majesty”, said the woodsman bowing before the king. Then he added, "It is the woman who gives stature to the man." Instantly, the king arose from his chair, and asked, "Who said those words?"
At that moment, exquisitely dressed and adorned with precious jewels, the queen entered the room, and stood before the king. Gazing with wonderment at her lovely face, he knelt at her feet, and said with tears in his eyes, "You are my own true wife, and no other. You are the crown on my head. Now I know you spoke the truth: It is the woman who gives stature to the man;"
The king kissed his wife tenderly, and they embraced. Then he took her back to the palace. They had a long and happy marriage, and the woodsman and his family were always close by.
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