Alas, the merchant
suddenly lost his fortune.
He and his daughters were
forced to move into a
humble cottage out in the
country.
They had to make do with simple
food and clothes, to eat out of plain
bowls and to sleep in poor beds.
The older sisters
complained the
whole day long,
for they were
sour tempered,
but Beauty sang
and laughed.
Riches meant
nothing to her.