“ When the hour for departure drew near the old mother went to her bedroom, and taking a small knife she cut her fingers till they bled; then she held a white rag under them, and letting three drops of blood fall into it, she gave it to her daughter, and said: ‘Dear child, take great care of this rag: it may be of use to you on the journey.’
So they took a sad farewell of each other, and the Princess stuck the rag in front of her dress, mounted her horse, and set forth on the journey to her bridegroom’s kingdom. ”

“ But the waiting-maid had observed it with delight, as she knew it gave her power over the bride, for in losing the drops of blood the Princess had become weak and powerless. When she wished to get on her horse Falada again, the waiting-maid called out: ‘I mean to ride Falada: you must mount my beast;’ and this too she had to submit to. Then the waiting-maid commanded her harshly to take off her royal robes, and to put on her common ones, and finally she made her swear by heaven not to say a word about the matter when they reached the palace ”

“ But that evening when they got home Curdken went to the old King, and said: ‘I refuse to herd geese any longer with that girl.’ ‘For what reason?’ asked the old King. ‘Because she does nothing but annoy me all day long,’ replied Curdken; and he proceeded to relate all her iniquities, and said: ‘Every morning as we drive the flock through the dark gate she says to a horse’s head that hangs on the wall:
‘“Oh! Falada, ’tis you hang there;” ”