Once, a poor servant girl went to the woods to gather herbs and got lost. As she sat crying, frightened and exhausted, a white dove flew down to her and dropped a little golden key in her lap.
“In the trunk of that big tree is a door,” said the dove, “Open it with this key.”
When she opened the door, the girl found bread, cheese and milk inside, so she ate her fill and felt better. The dove swooped down and dropped a second key into her hand. This time she found a soft white bed in the trunk of another tree. She climbed into the bed and fell fast asleep.
In the morning, she found the white dove beside her with another key. This time she found grand dresses fit for a princess! The dove asked her if she would help him. The girl readily agreed to help the kind dove.
“I will take you to a cottage,” said the dove, “Push past the old woman who opens the door without speaking to her. There will be a room full of gold and silver rings. Bring me the dullest and plainest ring, please.”
The girl went with him and found the room with the rings. But there was none that was plain and dull. Suddenly, she saw the old woman trying to escape from the cottage, carrying a basket.
The girl ran after her and grabbed the basket. In the basket was a little kitten with a ribbon tied around its neck and on the ribbon was a dull, plain ring. In a flash, the girl tore the ring off the ribbon, and rushed away with all her might.
Before the old woman could chase her, she had run off through the forest to where the trees were. She sat down leaning against a tree, tired after running. But there was no sign of the dove. As she waited, two of the branches crept around her and she found that the tree had turned into a handsome prince.
“I was cursed by the old woman,” he said, “I had to be a dove for some part of the day and a tree for the rest of the day. My attendants and horses too were placed under spells. This ring has broken the spell.”
And sure enough, the girl saw other trees turning into the prince’s attendants and his horses. The prince married the brave and kind servant girl and they lived happily ever after.
