She was told not to laugh

There was once a woman who had two daughters, Millison and Blanche. Millison, the elder, was sharp-tongued and cruel, while Blanche was gentle and kind. Yet it was Millison whom the mother favored, for she saw her own hard nature reflected there. Blanche was made to work from morning until night, while her mother and sister dreamed idly of riches and city life.

One day Blanche was sent to fetch water from the well. There she met an old woman who asked for a drink. Blanche, without hesitation, rinsed her bucket and offered her fresh water. The old woman thanked her warmly, and they parted.

Not long after, Blanche was beaten cruelly by her mother and fled into the forest in terror. Lost and weeping, she once again met the old woman, who offered her food and shelter—but with one condition: Blanche must not laugh at anything she saw. Blanche agreed and followed her deep into the woods, where thorn bushes parted of their own accord and strange wonders appeared—axes clashing without hands, arms and legs moving on their own, and heads colliding in silent combat. Though astonished, Blanche remained quiet.

At the old woman’s cabin, Blanche witnessed even greater marvels. The woman calmly detached her head, set it upon her lap to comb and braid her hair, then returned it to her shoulders as though nothing were amiss. A single bone became a hearty stew, and one grain of rice filled a pot. Blanche obeyed every instruction without question or mockery.

The next morning, the old woman sent Blanche home with a gift: talking eggs. Blanche was told to take only the eggs that asked to be taken, and to throw them behind her on the road. Though the golden eggs glittered temptingly, it was the plain eggs that called to her, and Blanche obeyed. Each egg she broke behind her turned into wonders—jewels, fine clothes, and even a carriage. Blanche returned home wealthy beyond measure.

Seeing this, Blanche’s mother sent Millison into the woods to seek the same fortune. Millison mocked the strange sights she encountered and laughed openly at the old woman’s magic. When given the same instructions about the eggs, she ignored the plain ones and seized the golden eggs instead. But when she broke them open, snakes, frogs, insects, and swarms poured forth and chased her in terror back home.

Blanche, fearing blame, left behind some of her riches to help her family, then departed for the city in her fine carriage. There she lived as a grand lady for the rest of her days—kind to all, respected, and surrounded by friends—while the lesson of the talking eggs lingered: that kindness sees what gold cannot, and that mockery is always heard.