Well, listen! Once upon a time there lived a rich man, and he had three daughters. So he decided to find out whether they loved him deeply. And he asks his eldest daughter:
- Tell me, how much do you love me, daughter?
- Like your life! - she answers.
“That’s good,” he says. And he asks the middle one: “How do you love me, daughter?”
- More than anything else! - she answers.
“Very good,” he says. And he asks the youngest: “How do you love me, my dove?”
“I love you like meat loves salt,” she replies.
Oh, how angry my father was!
“So you don’t love me at all,” he says. - If so, don’t you dare stay in my house!
And he immediately drove her away and slammed the door behind her.
That's it. And she went wherever she looked and walked and walked until she came to a swamp. There she picked reeds and wove herself a cape with a hood. She wrapped herself in it from head to toe to hide her beautiful dress and moved on. Whether it was long or short, she finally reached a house.
- Don't you need a maid? she asks.
“No, it’s not necessary,” they answer her.
“I have nowhere else to go,” she says. “I’m not asking for a salary, but I’ll do whatever they tell me.”
“Well,” they answer her, “if you want to wash pots and clean pans, stay!”
And she stayed and washed the pots, and cleaned the pans, and did all the dirty work. And since she didn’t tell anyone her name, everyone called her Reed Hat.
One day there was a big ball in the neighborhood, and all the servants were allowed to go and see the noble gentlemen. But Reed Hat said that she was very tired and would not go anywhere, and stayed at home.
And as soon as everyone left, she threw off her rush cape, washed herself and went to the ball. And believe me, there was no one more beautiful than her at the ball!
And it just had to happen that the son of her owners also came to the ball. He fell in love with the Reed Cap at first sight and danced with her all evening.
But just before the end of the ball, Reed Cap quietly ran home. And when the rest of the maids returned, she had already managed to throw a reed cape over herself and pretended to be asleep.
And the next morning the maids say to her:
- What happened at the ball yesterday!
- What? - asks Reed Hat.
“You know, one young lady came there, and what a beauty, how dressed up!” Our young master couldn't take his eyes off her!
- I wish I could take a look at her! - says Reed Hat.
- What was the matter? There's another ball tonight, she'll probably come.
But when evening came, Reed Cap again said that she was too tired and would not go with everyone. However, before the servants had time to leave, she threw off her reed cape, washed herself and hurried to the ball.
The young master was waiting for her. And again he danced only with her, and did not take his eyes off her. But just before the end of the ball, Reed Cap slowly slipped away home. And when the rest of the maids returned, she had already managed to throw a reed cape over herself and pretended to be asleep.
The next day the maids say to her:
- Oh, Reed Hat, if only you could look at that lady! She was at the ball again. And our young master never took his eyes off her.
“Well,” says Reed Cap, “I wouldn’t mind taking a look at it.”
- So listen, there’s another ball tonight. Come with us! She'll probably come.
But when that evening came, Reed Cap said again:
- I'm very tired. If you want, go alone, and I will stay at home.
But as soon as they left, she threw off her rush cape, washed herself and hurried to the ball.
The young master was incredibly happy with her. Again he danced only with her and did not take his eyes off her. This time he asked her name and where she was from, but she didn't answer. Then he gave her a ring and said that he would die of sadness if he never saw her again.
And yet, just before the end of the ball, Reed Cap quietly ran home again. And when the rest of the maids returned, she had already managed to throw a reed cape over herself and pretended to be asleep.
And the next day the maids say to her:
- You see, Reed Hat! You didn’t come with us yesterday, and now you won’t see that lady again. There will be no more balls!
- Oh, what a pity! And I really wanted to see her! - Reed Hat answered.
That's it.
And the young master?
Yes, he did everything he could to find out where the Reed Cap had gone, but all in vain. Wherever he went, no matter who he asked, no one knew anything about her. And he became so sad that he fell ill, went to bed and even stopped eating.
“Brew oatmeal for the young master,” they ordered the cook. - Otherwise, it’s as if he didn’t die from longing for the beauty.
The cook immediately began to cook the porridge. And at this time Reed Hat entered the kitchen.
- What are you cooking? she asked.
“Porridge for the young master,” answered the cook. - Maybe he’ll taste it. Otherwise, it’s as if he didn’t die from longing for the beauty.
- Let me cook! - Reed Hat asked.
The cook agreed, although not immediately, and Reed Hat herself cooked oatmeal for the young master. And when the porridge was ready, she secretly threw a ring into it.
So they took the porridge to the patient. He ate it and saw his ring at the bottom of the cup.
- Call me the cook! - he ordered. The cook went up to him.
- Who cooked the porridge? he asked.
“I,” she lied out of fright. But he looked at her and said:
- No, not you! Tell the truth, who prepared it? Nothing will happen to you for this.
“If so,” she says, “Reed Cap cooked it.”
- Call Reed Hat to me! - he said.
Here comes the Reed Cap.
- Were you the one who cooked me porridge? - asks the young man.
“I am,” she answers.
-Who did you take this ring from? he asks.
- From the one who gave it to me! - she answers.
- But who are you?
- Now you'll see!
And she threw off her rush clothing and appeared before him in her beautiful dress.
Well, of course, the young man recovered very quickly, and they decided to get married. They wanted to celebrate the wedding as a success and guests were invited from everywhere. Reed Hat's father was also invited. But she never admitted to anyone who she was.
And so, just before the wedding, she went to the cook and said:
— When you cook meat dishes, don’t put salt in any of them!
“It won’t be tasty,” the cook remarked.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Reed Hat.
“Okay, I won’t add salt,” the cook agreed.
The wedding day has arrived. After the wedding, all the guests sat down at the table. But when they tried the meat, it turned out to be so tasteless that it was impossible to eat. And Reed Hat's father tasted all the dishes one after another and suddenly burst into tears.
- What's wrong with you? - the young master asks him.
- Ah! - he answered. - I had a daughter. One day I asked her how she loved me. And she answered: “Like meat loves salt.” Well, I decided that she didn’t love me at all, and I drove her out of the house. And now I see that she loved me more than anyone. But apparently she is no longer alive.
- Look, father, here she is! - Reed Hat exclaimed, rushed to her father and threw her arms around his neck.
Since then they all lived happily.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru