Long ago there lived a king who had a wife named Silver-tree, and a daughter named Gold-tree. On a certain day of days, Gold-tree and Silver-tree traveled to a glen to visit a pool, within which dwelt a trout. 

“Tell me, Troutie,” said Silver-tree, “am I not the most beautiful queen in the world?”

“Oh no,” said the trout, “it is Gold-tree, your daughter.”

The queen returned home in a rage and took to her bed, claiming she would not be well again until she could have the heart and liver of her daughter to eat. The King came home from hunting, and upon hearing this wanted to help his wife, but could not sacrifice his daughter. He accepted a marriage proposal for Gold-tree and sent her abroad to marry a prince, and gave his wife the heart and liver of a he-goat.

Believing Gold-tree dead, the queen rose from her bed, well and healthy. A year passed and the day came again when Silver-tree could visit the pool.

“Tell me, Troutie,” said Silver-tree, “am I not the most beautiful queen in the world?”

“Oh no,” said the trout, “it is Gold-tree, your daughter.”

“But she is long since dead,” said Silver-tree.

“Oh no,” said the trout, “she is married to a wealthy prince abroad.”

Silver-tree went home and begged the king to ready his long ship, saying it had been too long since she had seen her dear daughter. The ship set sail the following day with Silver-tree at the helm. She steered the ship so expertly they arrived swiftly at the shores of the prince’s country.

The prince was out hunting, and so Gold-tree said to the servants,“It is my mother, come to kill me.”

So Gold-tree was locked in the room where Silver-tree couldn’t reach her. Silver-tree came to the door a said, “will you not come out and greet your own mother?”

“I cannot,” said Gold-tree, “I am locked in this room and I cannot get out.”

“Then will you not put your little finger through the key hole so your mother may kiss it.”

Gold-tree put out her little finger, and Silver-tree stabbed her with a poison thorn. Gold-tree fell dead where she stood.

The prince returned from hunting and was heartbroken to find Gold-tree dead. She was so beautiful he could not bear to burry her, so he locked her in a special chamber, to which only he had the key. In the following months he remarried, and his second wife managed every room in the house but that one.

On a certain day of days, he forgot to take the key with him when he left to go hunting, and the second wife was able to enter the room. There she found Gold-tree, the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, and immediately tried to wake her. Then, she saw the poison thorn in her finger. She pulled it out, and Gold-tree rose alive and well.

When the Prince returned he was overjoyed to find Gold-tree alive.

“Since she is your first wife, it is better you stay with her,” said the second wife. “I shall go away.”

“No indeed,” said the Prince, “you shall not go away, and I shall have both of you.”

Far away in Gold-tree’s home country, the time had come again for Silver-tree to visit the pool.

“Tell me, Troutie,” said Silver-tree, “am I not the most beautiful queen in the world?”

“Oh no,” said the trout, “it is Gold-tree, your daughter.”

“But I killed her a year past!” Said Silver-tree.

“Oh no,” said the trout, “she yet lives.”

Once again Silver-tree returned home and begged her husband to ready the ship so she could visit her dear Gold-tree. Once again Silver-tree’s skill at the helm brought them swiftly to the shores of the Prince’s kingdom.

The Prince was out hunting on the hills when Gold-tree saw her father’s ship coming into port.

“Oh!” said she, “my mother is coming to kill me.”

“Not at all,” said the second wife, “come, let us go down to meet her.”

Silver tree stepped onto the shore and called for Gold-tree, “come, come, dear daughter, for I have a precious drink for you.”

“It is custom in this country,” said the second wife, “that the person who offers the drink take the first draught.”

Silver-tree put her mouth to the cup, and the second wife struck her elbow, so as the drink splashed down her throat. Silver-tree fell dead to her own poison.

The Prince and the two wives lived in peace and happiness for a long time after. I left them there.