In a little room sat an old woman with a spindle, busily
spinning her flax. The old woman was so deaf that she had never heard the
King's command that all spindles should be destroyed.
"Good morning, Granny," said the Princess,
"what are you doing?"
"I am spinning," said the old woman.
"What is the thing that whirls round so merrily?"
asked the Princess and she took the spindle and tried to spin too.
But she had scarcely touched the spindle when it pricked her
finger. At that moment she fell upon the bed which was standing near and
lay still in a deep sleep.
