Cap o’ Rushes

Once upon a time, a rich gentleman had three daughters. One day he asked them, “How much do you love me, my dears?” “More than all the jewels in the world,” said the first daughter. “More than all the flowers in spring,” said the second daughter. “I love you as much as good food loves salt,” said the youngest daughter. Her father did not understand, and he grew very angry. “That means you do not love me at all!” he shouted, and he sent her away from his house.

The youngest daughter walked and walked until she came to a marsh full of tall rushes. She wove the rushes into a long cloak with a hood, to cover her fine dress and keep her warm. Then she went to a great house nearby and asked for work. “I will wash the pots and scrub the floors,” she said, and the cook let her stay. Because of her funny cloak, everyone called her Cap o’ Rushes.

One day, there was to be a grand dance at the great house. All the servants were allowed to go and watch, but Cap o’ Rushes said she was too tired. When they had gone, she took off her cloak of rushes and went to the dance in her fine dress. The young master of the house saw her, and he danced with no one else all night. Before the dance ended, she slipped away, put on her cloak, and was back in the kitchen. This happened three nights in a row, and on the last night, the young master gave her a ring.

After that, the young master was sad, because he could not find the lovely girl from the dance. He grew so sad that he stayed in bed, and the cook made him a bowl of warm porridge. Cap o’ Rushes asked if she could carry it up, and she dropped the ring into the bowl. When the young master found the ring, he called for the person who had brought the porridge. In came Cap o’ Rushes, and she pulled back her hood to show her face. The young master was overjoyed, and soon they were to be married.

Many guests came to the wedding feast, and one of them was her father, who did not know the bride was his own daughter. Before the feast, Cap o’ Rushes asked the cook to make every dish without a single grain of salt. The guests tasted the food, but it was dull and had no flavor at all. Her father put down his spoon and began to cry. “I once had a daughter who said she loved me as much as food loves salt,” he said. “Now I understand that she loved me best of all, and I sent her away.” “Father, I am here!” said Cap o’ Rushes, and she ran to hug him. And from that day on, they were all happy together.