The Pig's Wife

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There was once, in a kingdom which no longer exists, a man who had three daughters. This man was poor and his daughters beautiful, and he thought he might with this get them spouses who would give them a better life than he could afford.

It went as he hoped: in the first year that the eldest came of courting age, she found love with a grocer's son. Her father said: Ah! People need groceries year round; as a grocer's wife, you will always have an income, and always be necessary in your community, and so I know you will be happy. And so the eldest married her grocer, and her father was glad that she would be provided for.

Not long after her sister had gone to her house, the second daughter came to courting age, and within half the year she had drawn the eye of the woman who designed gowns for the rich ladies in the town. Her father saw this and said: Well! You will be dependent on the waxing and waning seasons of fashion, but during the full times you will have enough income to put by for the lean times, and you will be in the company and notice of those who have an opportunity to do right by you, and so I know you will be happy. So the second daughter married her designer, and it was a relief to her poor father.

In time, the youngest daughter came of courting age, but though she had the most suitors, she turned away all but a young and poor huntsman. She swore she would have no other but him, but her father worried for her, and said: If you marry this poor huntsman, you will be not much better off than you are with me. Your entire income will depend on what game is available, and you will have hard work ahead of you . But the youngest was not deterred.

Her father still objected, so the poor huntsman declared that he would go into the world and find his fortune, and once he did then he would give the youngest the life her father wished for her, and begged the girl to wait for him, and so the betrothal was arranged, and the young huntsman went out into the world, and was not heard from again.

Seven years passed after that (seven years being the amount of time required by law before a betrothal could be considered dissolved should one party be missing), and by this point the youngest daughter had grown entirely into a young woman, but her heart was cold and hard at the loss of her love, and she declared that whoever came courting for her when she was once more free of her betrothal she would marry with will.

Her father was as distraught by this as he had been at the thought of her working herself to the grave as a huntsman's wife, and said to her: You are more beautiful now than the day when you came of courting age, and you have in seven years built a resume of skills that would make you an ideal wife for anyone. Show some discernment, and court one who can make you happy, and provide for you at once.

But she knew her own mind and would never be dissuaded, and her father, who felt the distress he had unwittingly caused his daughter, relented.

On the day after the young woman's betrothal was dissolved, a boar came to their cottage, and asked to court the young woman, because he had heard that she would be an ideal wife for anyone, and wished her to be his. The father tried to protest- he would not like to see his daughter married to a boar, he said- but the young woman reminded him of her promise, and agreed to marry the boar right away.

And so it was. But though she knew her own mind, and would not back down when she had chosen to do something, she still felt some apprehension as her new husband carried her to his home. What sort of husband could a boar make?

The boar, sensing her apprehension, said: I do not have a fine, grand house, nor can I offer you servants. As my wife you will need to work for your daily bread. But I am not unkind, nor will I see you overworked. I have some income, and I can provide for a household, or I should not have taken a wife at all.