I glanced up from my spinning and I saw the prince sitting on his horse, looking at me through the window. The setting sun blazed on his face, and when he turned away, I was glowing.

The room had become so warm! I went to the window and opened it. I watched him ride away for as long as I could see the white feathers waving on his hat.

Then I sat down to work again. A song came to me. My godmother would sing it when she spun:

Spindle, my spindle, haste thee away
and bring to my house the wooer, I pray.

To my surprise, the spindle sprang out of my hand and flew out the door! It danced into open country, drawing a shining golden thread behind it. Then it vanished from sight, down the road where the prince had gone.

How strange, I thought!

Spinning Maiden with a Golden Thread in The Spindle, The Shuttle, and the Needle, Grimms. Picture by Arthur Rackham.