How Rumplestilz Held Out
by Guy Wetmore Carryl · from Grimm Tales Made Gay
Adapted Version
Lily lived in a big house. She had many jobs to do. Her uncle was The Earl. He was not kind. Lily washed windows. She cleaned the floors. Lily fed the dog. She worked all day long. The Earl gave her many hard jobs.
Lily always worked hard. But The Earl was not kind. He gave Lily a new job. It was a very big job. A big pile of flax sat there. "Spin this," said The Earl. Make six pants. Lily felt scared.
The Earl left the room. Lily looked at the flax. She looked at the machine. This job was too big. Lily could not do it. She felt very sad. Big tears came to her eyes. Lily started to cry. She cried for a long time.
Suddenly, something moved. A small, strange Gnome appeared. He came from the wall. The Gnome was very tiny. He had a funny face. He looked at Lily. The Gnome smiled a little smile. Lily stopped crying now. She watched the small Gnome.
The Gnome did not speak. He went to the machine. He touched the fluffy flax. He spun the flax quickly. The flax became soft thread. He made six pairs of pants. The Gnome finished his work.
The Gnome looked at Lily. "You must pay me back." Lily asked, "How can I pay?" The Gnome said, "Guess my name!" "If not, you work for me." Lily felt worried again.
Lily thought and thought. She heard a song before. The song was about a Gnome. His name was Rumpelstiltskin. Lily smiled. "Is your name Rumpelstiltskin?" she asked. The Gnome was very angry. He stomped his foot. He disappeared.
Lily was very happy. She was free! The Earl never bothered her again. Lily was very clever. Being clever can help you solve big problems.
Original Story
How Rumplestilz Held Out
in Vain for a Bonus
In Germany there lived an earl
Who had a charming niece:
And never gave the timid girl
A single moment’s peace!
Whatever low and menial task
His fancy flitted through,
He did not hesitate to ask
That shrinking child to do.
(I see with truly honest shame you
Are blushing, and I do not blame you.
A tale like this the feelings softens,
And brings the tears, as does “Two Orphans.”)
She had to wash the windows, and
She had to scrub the floors,
She had to lend a willing hand
To fifty other chores:
She gave the dog his exercise,
She read the earl the news,
She ironed all his evening ties,
And polished all his shoes,
She cleaned the tins that filled the dairy,
She cut the claws of the canary,
And then, at night, with manner winsome,
When coal was wanted, carried in some!
But though these tasks were quite enough,
He thought them all too few,
And so her uncle, rude and rough,
Invented something new.
He took her to a little room,
Her willingness to tax,
And pointed out a broken loom
And half a ton of flax,
Observing: “Spin six pairs of trousers!”
His haughty manner seemed to rouse hers.
She met his scornful glances proudly—
And for an answer whistled loudly!
But when the earl went down the stair
She yielded to her fears.
Gave way at last to grim despair,
And melted into tears:
When suddenly, from out the wall,
As if he felt at home,
There pounced a singularly small
And much distorted gnome.
He smiled a smile extremely vapid,
And set to work in fashion rapid;
No time for resting he deducted,
And soon the trousers were constructed.
The girl observed: “How very nice
To help me out this way!”
The gnome replied: “A certain price
Of course you’ll have to pay.
I’ll call to-morrow afternoon,
My due reward to claim,
And then you’ll sing another tune
Unless you guess my name!”
He indicated with a gesture
The pile of newly fashioned vesture:
His eyes on hers a moment centered,
And then he went, as he had entered.
As by this tale you have been grieved
And heartily distressed,
Kind sir, you will be much relieved
To know his name she guessed:
But if I do not tell the same,
Pray count it not a crime:—
I’ve tried my best, and for that name
I can’t find any rhyme!
Yet spare me from remarks injurious:
I will not leave you foiled and furious.
If something must proclaim the answer,
And I cannot, the title can, sir!
The Moral is: All said and done,
There’s nothing new beneath the sun,
And many times before, a title
Was incapacity’s requital!
Story DNA
Moral
There's nothing new beneath the sun, and sometimes a title reveals what the author cannot rhyme.
Plot Summary
A cruel German earl constantly overworks his niece, eventually demanding she spin half a ton of flax into trousers. Overwhelmed, the niece cries, prompting a small gnome to appear and offer to complete the task in exchange for her guessing his name. The gnome quickly spins the flax, and the niece successfully guesses his name, thus escaping his claim. The narrator humorously reveals that the title of the story provides the gnome's name, as they couldn't find a rhyme for it.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is a humorous, rhyming adaptation of the classic German fairy tale 'Rumpelstiltskin,' playing on the original's core premise but with a different, more lighthearted resolution and a meta-commentary on the author's struggle with rhyme.
Plot Beats (8)
- An earl in Germany constantly burdens his niece with an excessive number of menial chores.
- Despite her diligence, the earl, being rude and rough, invents a new, impossible task for her: to spin half a ton of flax into six pairs of trousers.
- The niece initially shows defiance but then succumbs to despair and cries when left alone.
- A small, distorted gnome suddenly appears from the wall.
- The gnome, with a vapid smile, quickly spins all the flax into the required trousers.
- The gnome demands payment: the girl must guess his name by the next afternoon, or he will claim his due reward.
- The girl successfully guesses the gnome's name.
- The narrator explains that they cannot rhyme the gnome's name but assures the reader that the title of the story reveals it.
Characters
The Earl ⚔ antagonist
A man of average height and a somewhat portly build, indicative of a life of leisure. His features are likely sharp, reflecting his haughty and demanding nature, with a tendency to scowl or look down upon others.
Attire: Rich, dark velvet doublet with puffed sleeves and intricate embroidery, worn over a fine linen shirt with lace cuffs. Breeches of a contrasting color, possibly dark green or maroon, and polished leather boots. A heavy gold signet ring on one finger. His attire speaks of wealth and status, but also a certain rigidity.
Wants: To exert control and power over his niece, possibly out of boredom or a desire to maintain his perceived authority.
Flaw: His arrogance and lack of empathy, which make him oblivious to the suffering he causes and potentially vulnerable to cleverness.
Does not change. He remains a cruel and demanding figure throughout the story, his actions driving the plot.
Rude, rough, demanding, cruel, inventive (in finding new tasks). He derives pleasure from making his niece miserable.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult man of average height with a somewhat portly build, standing upright and facing forward. He has a stern face with a pointed nose and thin lips, cold, critical eyes, and neatly kept dark hair that is slightly receding. He wears a rich, dark velvet doublet with puffed sleeves and intricate gold embroidery, over a fine white linen shirt with lace cuffs. His breeches are dark green, and he wears polished black leather boots. A heavy gold signet ring is on his right hand. He has a haughty, scornful expression with his chin slightly elevated. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Niece ★ protagonist
A slender and delicate young woman, appearing somewhat fragile due to her timid nature and the constant toil she endures. Her movements might be hesitant, but she possesses an underlying resilience.
Attire: Simple, practical German peasant attire: a long, plain linen dress in a muted color like grey or faded blue, possibly with a white apron over it. Her sleeves would be rolled up for work, and her shoes would be sturdy, worn leather or wooden clogs. Her clothing is clean but shows signs of wear.
Wants: To survive her uncle's cruelty, to complete her tasks, and ultimately, to escape her predicament.
Flaw: Her timidity and fear, which initially lead her to despair.
She starts as a shrinking, despairing figure but shows a moment of defiance (whistling) and ultimately overcomes her immediate challenge with the gnome's help, suggesting a growing inner strength.
Timid, shrinking, willing (initially), despairing, resilient (eventually), proud (when challenged).
Image Prompt & Upload
A slender and delicate young woman, standing upright and facing forward. She has a gentle, oval-shaped face with soft, sad blue eyes and fair, slightly pale skin. Her light brown hair is pulled back in a simple, practical braid. She wears a long, plain faded blue linen dress with the sleeves rolled up, and a white apron tied over it. Her feet are in sturdy brown wooden clogs. She holds a handful of raw flax in her left hand, her expression is one of quiet despair, with a tear rolling down her cheek. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Rumplestilz ◆ supporting
A singularly small and much distorted gnome. His body is likely disproportionate, perhaps with a large head or limbs, giving him an odd, almost grotesque appearance. He moves with surprising speed and agility despite his unusual form.
Attire: Simple, rustic, and perhaps slightly tattered clothing, typical of a gnome or forest spirit. Earth-toned tunic and breeches, possibly made of coarse woven fabric, with pointed leather shoes. His attire would blend with natural surroundings, but also suggest his ancient, unkempt nature.
Wants: To gain a reward (the niece's firstborn, or in this version, her guessing his name) for his magical services.
Flaw: His vanity about his name, which is his only vulnerability.
Does not change. He fulfills his role as the magical helper and then exits the story, his character defined by his magical ability and his cunning bargain.
Vapid (when smiling), rapid, efficient, demanding, cunning, mischievous.
Image Prompt & Upload
A singularly small, much distorted male gnome, standing upright and facing forward. He has a disproportionate body, perhaps with a slightly oversized head and short, sturdy limbs. His face is unusual, with a wide, thin-lipped mouth, small, beady dark eyes, and a pointed nose. He has a scraggly grey beard and tufts of wild grey hair. He wears a simple, slightly tattered earth-toned tunic, coarse brown breeches, and pointed dark leather shoes. His smile is unsettlingly blank and vapid. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Earl's German Estate
A large German estate, likely with various outbuildings and grounds, where the niece performs numerous chores.
Mood: Oppressive, busy, filled with endless menial tasks.
The niece's daily life of servitude under her demanding uncle.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sprawling German estate in the countryside, featuring a half-timbered Fachwerk manor house with a steep gabled roof and small, multi-paned windows. A well-trodden dirt path leads past a small, neat garden with burdock leaves, towards a deep, slow-moving river in the background. The sky is a clear, bright morning blue, casting soft, even light over the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Small Room with Loom
A small, confined room within the earl's estate, containing a broken loom and a large quantity of flax.
Mood: Despairing, claustrophobic, then suddenly magical and mysterious.
The niece is given an impossible task, the gnome appears, spins the flax, and makes his demand.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cramped, dimly lit room inside a German Fachwerk house, with rough-hewn timber beams crisscrossing the low ceiling and plaster walls. In the center, a sturdy but broken wooden loom stands next to a massive, disheveled pile of raw, golden-brown flax fibers on the stone floor. A small, high window with leaded panes allows a weak shaft of afternoon light to cut through the dusty air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
