The Old Witch

Ellen Chase gave her copy of the story to Mrs Gomme, who then sent it to Joseph Jacobs.

Watkins notes that “It is at once clear that the Gomme/Jacobs text is a radical revision of the original, rather than a slight brushing-up for publication.” Chase’s original notes were published in FLS News (10 1990) as ‘The Witch and her Servant’ and is re-produced in Watkins pp.58-59.

Others of this type include Frau Holle, Shita-kiri Suzume, Diamonds and Toads, Mother Hulda, Father Frost, The Three Little Men in the Wood, The Enchanted Wreath, The Three Heads in the Well, and The Two Caskets.

When the girl came to the oven, it hid her behind it and tricked the old witch into entering, trapping her for a long time.

When she stole the gold, the apple tree refused to hide her and the old witch caught her, beat her, and took back the bag of money.