This is taken from the American South, specifically the Creole collection of Louisiana stories.

As a young girl, a widow with two daughters lived in a poor farm. They hoped their luck would change so that they could be well-dressed and successful high-born ladies. Mean and cross, they and their mother loved to bully Blanche, the youngest child. She did all the work around the house and was severely punished for no reason. While performing the task of obtaining cold water, Blanche was found by an old lady dressed in a black garment. When she gave the old lady some cold water, the lady walked far into the woods.

When Blanche returned to nasty group, she cried and in despair, ran away. She found the old woman who treated her well. She was tested when asked not to laugh at what she will find at the elder woman's house. While she found some very silly things, still, she did not laugh.

After a period of time, she was told to return to her original home. but before leaving, she was told to collect eggs in the hen house. She was instructed only to take the eggs that said "Take me," Those that were heavily jeweled and gold and silver were to be left alone, and when they said "Don't Take Me," Blanche needed to heed the instructions. Told to toss the eggs over her shoulders one at a time, she received many treasures.

The wicked mother was able to gain information from Blanche regarding the treasures, and she and the other two daughters went to the house of the old lady. Laughing at the objects Blanche did not, and collecting all the eggs, Throwing them over their shoulders did not accomplish the gift of jewels, rather there were nasty animals that could harm them.

The end of the story: Blance left the wicked family and living the life of a grand lady. Whit for the remaining years of their lives, the mother and sisters tried, but never could find the old lady again. ( )

This would be a fun story for little girls

Read aloud to my daughter many, many times. ( )

I remember this book being mildly terrifying as a child. ( )

Good story to teach theme in literature. Appropriate story for elementary or middle school students. Creole folktale about two very different sisters, one sweet and kind, the other cruel and mean. The mother preferred the harsher sister and made the kinder Blanche, do all the work around the house. One day Blanche met an old strange woman in the woods that gave her very strict instructions and Blanche followed every one. In the end she was blessed for behaving with fine clothes and jewels. Her sister went to the old woman and inevitably didn't follow the old ladies instructions. She ended up being stung by bees and chased by a wolf, instead of receiving blessings. Blanche moved to the city and lived happily ever after with her new riches. ( )