The Juniper Tree

A wealthy couple deeply desires a child, and after praying under a juniper-tree, the wife finally gives birth to a son who is as red as blood and white as snow. Tragically, she dies shortly after, leaving her husband to remarry a woman who favors her own daughter. The new mother grows jealous of her stepson and treats him with cruelty, planning to remove him from the family entirely. Her evil scheme culminates in a terrible act where she kills the boy and hides his body by cooking him into a dish for dinner. The father eats the meal unaware of its gruesome contents, while the little daughter weeps silently at the table. To keep her secret, the mother forces her children to maintain silence about the missing boy. However, the girl gathers her brother's bones and places them under the juniper-tree, which miraculously transforms into a beautiful singing bird. The bird flies away, carrying the boy’s remains and his sister’s tears as it seeks justice from the world. It sings its sad song to various townspeople, trading their possessions for the chance to hear the truth about the crime. As the bird returns home to deliver its final verdict, the mother is terrified by her growing guilt and fear. The father and daughter receive gifts of gold and shoes from the bird, bringing them joy. But when the wicked mother steps outside, the bird drops a heavy millstone upon her head, crushing her instantly. With the evil stepmother gone, the boy is restored to life, reunited with his family. The story ends with the father, son, and daughter rejoicing together over their restored happiness and peace.