Tattercoats facts for kids
"Tattercoats" is a classic English fairy tale. It was collected by Joseph Jacobs. He included it in his book More English Fairy Tales. This story is about a young girl who is treated unfairly. She eventually finds happiness. The tale is similar to other stories where a good person is treated badly but then finds their true worth.
The Story of Tattercoats
Once, there was a great lord. He had no family left except his young granddaughter. Her mother, the lord's own daughter, had died when the girl was born. Because of this sadness, the lord swore he would never look at his granddaughter.
He stayed in his castle, always sad about his lost daughter. The granddaughter grew up completely ignored. People called her "Tattercoats" because her clothes were always old and torn. She spent her days in the fields. Her only friend was a gooseherd.
One day, the king invited the lord to a royal ball. The lord had his long hair cut short. It had grown so long it kept him stuck in his chair. He got ready to go to the ball. Tattercoats's old nurse begged him to take the girl. But he refused.
Tattercoats's friend, the gooseherd, suggested they go and watch. He played his pipe, and they danced happily along the way. A young man, dressed in fine clothes, asked them for directions to the city. When he heard they were going there, he walked with them. He then asked Tattercoats to marry him.
She told him to choose his bride at the king's ball. He told her to come to the ball at midnight, just as she was. He promised to dance with her.
Tattercoats went to the ball. The gooseherd went with all his geese. Everyone stared at Tattercoats's ragged clothes. But the young man, who was actually the prince, stood up. He told his father that this was the woman he wanted to marry.
The gooseherd played his pipe. Suddenly, Tattercoats's torn clothes changed into shining, beautiful robes. The geese turned into pages, holding up her long dress. Everyone at the ball approved. The prince then married Tattercoats.
After the wedding, the gooseherd disappeared. He was never seen again. Tattercoats's grandfather, because of his old promise, never looked at her. He went back to his castle and kept mourning there.
