Saskia

Saskia is the young daughter of a miller and his wife. Saskia's mother died when she was born; therefore, Saskia has never known of her mother's love affair with a young tailor or that the miller is not her father. Saskia only knows that her mother was once a spinner and she takes up that profession when her father falls into a depression and cannot care for her any longer.

Saskia learns early how to stand up for herself and to care for herself. However, when her father boasts to the king that Saskia can spin straw into gold, Saskia finds herself trapped in a situation in which she is forced to rely on another. Saskia gives all she holds dear to the tailor when he comes to spin the gold for her. On the third day, Saskia has nothing left but herself to offer the tailor. Instead...