Eleanor Hubbard

A version of the fisherman and his wife, set specifically in Norway, with much expanded language. First the fisherman asks for some lobster, so the wife asks for a bigger cooking pot -- which gets delivered by a peddler saying "Already paid for!" And they invite the neighbors in for lobster. Then the wife needs a new house with a bigger kitchen because of the bigger pot. Then the neighbors are jealous, so she needs to move to a richer neighborhood. Then she needs new friends so they have a big party. Then the wife meets the old king of Norway, so she decides she would be a good young queen when he is gone. But the fish tells the fisherman that he can't grant that wish because "a good queen must think of other people all the time. Ulla would think only of herself." So the husband and wife go for a walk and a long talk, during which Ulla the wife realizes that what would make her happy would be her old life. Which gets complete when the peddler shows up with a small stray kitten who needs them.… (altro)