In a cozy little cottage, beside a clacky-clacky watermill, lived a miller. He wasn't very rich, but he had a loving daughter. One day, a shadowy stranger appeared. "I can make you rich," he whispered, "if you promise me what stands behind your mill." The miller, thinking only of his big apple tree, quickly agreed. Oh dear! He didn't know his daughter was there, sweeping the yard just then!

Soon, the miller had piles of gold! But the stranger returned. "I've come for what you promised." The miller was horrified when he realized the stranger meant his daughter. The girl was so good and pure. She washed herself very clean and drew a circle of chalk all around herself. The shadowy stranger tried to grab her, but he couldn't get past the clean circle.

He growled, "Then you must cut off her hands, or I'll take you instead!" The poor miller, terribly scared, did this awful thing. His daughter was so brave, but tears streamed down her face. Even without hands, she cried onto the stumps, and her tears made them clean. The stranger still couldn't take her. "Hmph!" he grumbled and vanished in a puff of smoke.

The girl knew she couldn't stay. "Father," she said sadly, "I must go." And so, with her arms bandaged, she wandered off into the world.

She walked and walked until she came to a beautiful garden with a tall wall. Inside, pear trees were heavy with fruit. She was so hungry! Suddenly, a shining angel appeared. "Don't worry," the angel said gently, and helped her reach a juicy pear through the fence. The angel even bent a branch down for her.

The King who owned the garden saw her. He saw her kindness and her gentle face, even though she had no hands. "You are so gentle and good," he said. "Will you be my Queen?" The girl, surprised and happy, said yes! The King had special silver hands made for her, and they were very clever and helped her do many things.

They were very happy, and soon, a little baby boy was born. But the King had to go away to a big, important meeting far away. The Queen sent a happy message: "We have a healthy son!" But oh no! That same shadowy stranger (or perhaps a very naughty helper of his) sneakily changed the message. When the King read it, it said: "The Queen has had a strange monster!"

The King was sad but sent back a kind message: "Take good care of them both." But the message was changed again by the sneaky trickster! The Queen's mother read a terrible order: "The Queen and the child must leave the castle immediately!"

The Queen was heartbroken. With her baby boy tied carefully to her back, she walked into the deep, dark woods. Just when she felt completely lost and tired, the shining angel appeared again! "Follow me," the angel whispered, and led her to a tiny, hidden cottage. "You will be safe here."

For seven long years, she lived in the cottage with her son. She was so good and patient, and guess what? Because she was so good, her real hands grew back, strong and new!

Meanwhile, the King returned from his meeting. He was so upset to find his Queen and son gone! He searched and searched everywhere for them. After seven long years, he finally found the little cottage in the woods. And there was his Queen, with her real hands, holding the hand of their son, who was now a young boy!

Oh, what a happy hug they shared! The King learned about the tricky messages and was very sorry. He took them back to the palace, and they all lived happily together, with no more shadowy strangers to bother them ever again.

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