A woman has three daughters: Little One Eye, Little Two Eyes, and Little Three Eyes. Little Two Eyes, who resembles ordinary people, is mistreated by her sisters and mother. One day, while tending to a goat, she meets a wise woman who teaches her a magical phrase to summon a table of food. Little Two Eyes uses this magic daily, leading her sisters to suspect something is amiss. They attempt to spy on her, but Little Two Eyes cleverly evades their scrutiny. Eventually, their mother, envious of Little Two Eyes' fortune, kills the goat. Heartbroken, Little Two Eyes receives advice from the wise woman to bury the goat's heart, which grows into a magnificent tree bearing golden fruit. The sisters fail to gather the fruit, but Little Two Eyes succeeds, attracting the attention of a passing knight. He desires a branch from the tree, and Little Two Eyes provides it, asking to be taken away from her miserable life. The knight marries her, leaving her sisters envious and ultimately losing the tree's magic. Years later, Little Two Eyes encounters her impoverished sisters, who repent for their past cruelty. She welcomes them, demonstrating kindness despite their earlier mistreatment, highlighting themes of resilience, compassion, and redemption.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1867 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fairy Tale, Fantasy