On the edge of the village lived the good woman who was the village nurse. She helped everyone who was sick or having babies. One night, she heard someone knocking violently at her door. She opened it and saw a tall man, wearing a large cloak, standing outside. “Please come immediately,” he said, “My wife is ill!” “Let me take my lantern,” said the nurse. But he said, “It’s not far. Just come along!” The man walked ahead and to her amazement, the nurse saw that they had reached the river. He just kept walking right into it! She hesitated, but he turned to her and said, “Don’t be afraid. Just follow me.” She found herself inside the river in a glowing palace! In one of the chambers lay a beautiful lady, who was sick. The man asked everyone to leave and left the nurse to take care of the lady.
A Secret Shared
The lady whispered to the nurse that she had been a nobleman’s daughter. One day, a tall stranger had come for a ball and asked for her hand in marriage. She had been so enchanted that she agreed and followed him into the river. Since then, she had lived in this palace. Whenever she had a child, he would fetch a nurse. “But when he asks you to take any payment,” said the lady, “be sure to take only what is your due.” She pointed to many jars containing the spirits of greedy nurses kept on a shelf. Just then, the man entered and led the nurse to a treasure-filled chamber. “Take whatever you wish,” he said. The nurse told one gold coin and refused anything more. He smiled and gave her a bag of gold coins. Suddenly, the nurse awoke from her dream, but there was a bag of gold coins!
