Twomoreyearsslippedby，whenonedayduringtheking’sabsencethestepmotherfoundDotterinesittingunderalimetree。Shefellasusualintoapassion，andbeatthechildsobadlythatDotterinewentstaggeringtoherownroom。Hernursewasnotthere，butsuddenly，asshestoodweeping，hereyesfelluponthegoldencaseinwhichlaythepreciousbasket。Shethoughtitmightcontainsomethingtoamuseher，andlookedeagerlyinside，butnothingwastheresaveahandfulofwoolandtwoemptyeggshells。Verymuchdisappointed，sheliftedthewool，andtherelaythegoose’swing。’Whatoldrubbish，’saidthechildtoherself，and，turning，threwthewingoutoftheopenwindow。
Inamomentabeautifulladystoodbesideher。’Donotbeafraid，’saidthelady，strokingDotterine’shead。’Iamyourgodmother，andhavecometopayyouavisit。Yourredeyestellmethatyouareunhappy。Iknowthatyourstepmotherisveryunkindtoyou，butbebraveandpatient，andbetterdayswillcome。Shewillhavenopoweroveryouwhenyouaregrownup，andnooneelsecanhurtyoueither，ifonlyyouarecarefulnevertopartfromyourbasket，ortolosetheeggshellsthatareinit。
Makeasilkencaseforthelittlebasket，andhideitawayinyourdressnightanddayandyouwillbesafefromyourstepmotherandanyonethattriestoharmyou。Butifyoushouldhappentofindyourselfinanydifficulty，andcannottellwhattodo，takethegoose’swingfromthebasket，andthrowitoutofthewindow，andinamomentIwillcometohelpyou。Nowcomeintothegarden，thatImaytalktoyouunderthelimetrees，wherenoonecanhearus。’
Theyhadsomuchtosaytoeachother，thatthesunwasalreadysettingwhenthegodmotherhadendedallthegoodadviceshewishedtogivethechild，andsawitwastimeforhertobegoing。’Handmethebasket，’saidshe，’foryoumusthavesomesupper。Icannotletyougohungrytobed。’
Then，bendingoverthebasket，shewhisperedsomemagicwords，andinstantlyatablecoveredwithfruitsandcakesstoodonthegroundbeforethem。Whentheyhadfinishedeating，thegodmotherledthechildback，andonthewaytaughtherthewordsshemustsaytothebasketwhenshewantedittogivehersomething。