East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Once upon a time, there was a poor farmer who had a lot of children. He did not have much food or many clothes to give them. All his children were good-looking, but the youngest daughter was the most beautiful of all.

One Thursday evening, late in the autumn, the weather outside was wild and dark. Rain fell, and the wind blew so hard that the walls of the little house shook. The family sat around the fire, busy with this and that. Suddenly, something knocked three times on the window.

The father went out to see what it was. And there, outside the door, stood a great big White Bear.

"Good evening to you," said the White Bear.

"Good evening," said the man.

"Will you give me your youngest daughter?" asked the Bear. "If you do, I will make you as rich as you are now poor."

The man liked the idea of being rich. But first he wanted to talk to his daughter. So he went in and told her about the White Bear and his offer.