once upon a time there were two sisters called Laura and Josephine they lived in their parents house under an old coconut tree in the forest Laura was a beautiful girl but she was lazy and selfish she never carried fish home from the river for her father she never brought water for her mother every morning she stood at the edge of the river and looked at her beautiful face in the water every afternoon she lay down under the coconut tree I'm hungry she called out to her sister Josephine bring me a coconut I'm thirsty get me
something to drink the girl's parents loved Laura oh Laura they said you are very beautiful one day you'll marry a rich man come here my darling and sit beside me poor Josephine did all the work in the house Josephine her parents always said go to the river and bring some water put some wood on the fire where's our dinner haven't you cooked it be quick you lazy girl one day the girl's father went to catch fish come to the river this after afternoon he said to Josephine you can help me bring the fish home that
afternoon Josephine began to walk to the river where are you going her mother shouted you lazy girl you just want to go and play with your friends come back here sweep the floor bring wood for the fire help help your sister comb her hair but my father said began Josephine be quiet said her mother and do your work the sun began to go down and the girls father came back from the river he was angry where's Josephine he said here I am father said Josephine you lazy girl said her father why didn't you come to
the river and help me look at all this fish I needed you to carry it home but my mother said Josephine began that's enough her father shouted I don't want to hear another word from you bring me a knife we must cut up the fish I'll help you said Josephine quickly Laura was watching them she was frowning don't cut the fish on the ground she said I don't want any dust on my fish you're right my darling her mother said Josephine must be the table lie down you stupid girl I'll cut the fish on your
back so Josephine lay down with her face in the dust her mother put the fish on her back and began to cut it the knife was sharp some sometimes it went through the fish and cut into Josephine's back her blood ran down into the dust tears fell from her eyes but she didn't say anything look at her Laura said she doesn't feel the knife she doesn't feel the blood what a stupid girl but Laura and Josephine had an older sister she was married to a ogre who lived far away in the forest one day a
messenger came to the house your oldest daughter sends her greetings the messenger said to the girl's father she wants one of her sisters to visit her I don't want to walk for Miles through the forest said Laura I don't want to go to that ugly ogre's house of course you can't go my love said her mother there are wolves in the forest and and snakes too it's not safe Josephine can go we don't want her here at home so the next morning Josephine left her home and began her journey she took a little water and
a small bag of food I can't give you any more her mother said your sister will feed you now go it was a long way to her sister's house Josephine walked quickly once she heard a wolf in the [Music] trees once she saw a snake on the path but she kept walking evening came Josephine was tired and hungry then at last she smelled the smoke of a fire she followed the smell to her sister's Hut everyone was pleased to see her her sister's children kissed her and wanted her to play with them they were kind
and sweet and Josephine loved them at once soon Josephine's brother-in-law the ogre came home Josephine helped her sister cook his food the ogre had long teeth and big red eyes but he smiled at Josephine you are welcome in my house he said Josephine worked hard at her sister's house she brought water from the river cooked the food and told stories to the children the weeks passed quickly Josephine was very happy her sister's family loved her and she loved them too but one morning her sister said to her Josephine my dear you must go home now
you have been with us for many months you must go back to our parents everyone was sad the children asked for one last story Josephine's sister gave her a delicious breakfast and plenty of food for the journey you must eat she said it's a long way to our parents house I don't want you to be hungry where's my brother-in-law said Josephine I must say goodbye to him oh he's gone hunting her sister said now goodbye little sister goodbye Josephine began to walk down the path she was sad she didn't want to leave her dear sister's
house suddenly she heard a noise in the trees [Music] above oh white bird was sitting there watching Josephine walk past then it flew away but it wasn't a bird at all it was Josephine's brother-in-law the ogre Josephine walked on suddenly she stopped on the path in front of her was a beautiful tree red fruits were on its branches its leaves were made of gold a lovely smell came from it Josephine Josephine said the tree come here and eat my fruit Josephine put out her hand and nearly took a fruit then she remembered her sister thank
you she said but my kind sister gave me a delicious breakfast and plenty of food for my journey I'm sad because I've left her her good husband and her children I don't want anything to eat I'm not hungry she walked slowly past the tree she didn't want to break its beautiful branches then she walked on down the path the tree changed into the ogre again he smiled the journey was long Josephine was tired suddenly she saw a beautiful plate on the path a delicious dinner of fish and honey was on it and a lovely spoon
lay beside it Josephine Josephine said the plate come and eat my dinner Josephine wanted to eat the dinner but then she remembered her sister oh no she said thank you very much but I'm not hungry this morning I left my dear sister and her good husband and children they gave me plenty of food to eat I don't want anymore she went on down the path the plate changed into the ogre again he smiled then he turned into a wolf and ran back to his home the evening came it was nearly dark at last Josephine arrived
at her parents house her parents were happy to see her you always went to get the water her mother said but your sister never helps me I'm glad you've come home again you always carried my fish back from the river her father said but your sister never helps me I'm glad you're back at home oh there you are said Laura come here and comb my hair Josephine was surprised it was better at home now she worked hard but her parents were kind to her you're a good girl Josephine they said that evening Josephine's family asked
her about the ogre and his wife Josephine told them everything they were very kind to me she said perhaps my brother-in-law is an ogre but he is a good man the children are very sweet my sister is Happy the next day Laura said I want to go and see my sister it's boring here at home but there are wolves and snakes in the forest her mother said it's a very long way said her father don't try to stop me Laura said rudely I want to go her mother gave her a big bag full of delicious
food go with her half the way she said to her husband now goodbye my darling come home again soon soon Laura and her father began to walk through the forest once they heard a wolf in the [Music] distance he won't come near us her father said once they saw a snake on the path wait here I'll kill it said her father in the afternoon noon Laura walked on alone she was tired and thirsty at last she came to her sister's house her sister was very pleased to see her her little nephews and nieces tried to
climb into her arms and kiss her but Laura pushed them away I'm tired she said leave me alone get me something to eat and drink her brother-in-law came home from hunting Laura didn't smile at him she didn't greet him the days passed slowly Laura never went to get the water she never helped to cook the food she shouted at the children she fought with her sister she was rude to her brother-in-law she ate all the nicest pieces of food send her back to her parents said the ogre I don't don't want her here in my
house back in her parents' house Josephine was happy her parents loved her now you're better than your sister Laura her mother said you always work hard you always help me you're a good girl said her father I'm going to find you a good husband one day Josephine's father came home and said said I found a husband for you Josephine my dear he's a good man and he has many cows you will be very happy thank you Father Josephine said but my sister Laura will be angry she wanted to get married first your sister Laura must
wait her father said Laura didn't know about her sister's wedding but on the morning of Josephine's wedding day she decided to go home her oldest sister was happy there will be peace in my house at last she thought she didn't love Laura but she made her a delicious breakfast and she gave her food for the journey the children didn't like their aunt at all they didn't try to kiss her goodbye by where's my brother-in-law Laura said angrily why doesn't he come to say goodbye to me I don't like your husband sister he's a bad man
oh don't wait for my husband her oldest sister said he's gone hunting at last Laura began her journey she heard a noise above her head and looked up a white bird was sitting in the trees it was the ogre he watched Laura go down the path suddenly Laura stopped on the path in front of her was a beautiful tree red fruits were on its branches its leaves were made of gold a lovely smell came from it Laura Laura said the tree come here and eat my fruit Laura ran up to the tree and took the
biggest fruit I need this she said I've been in my sister's house she's married to a horrible ogre he has dirty Brown teeth and his mouth smells bad they didn't give me any nice food they weren't kind to me at all she put the fruit into her mouth the juice ran down her chin she picked some more then she kicked the tree with her foot get out of my way she said and she went on down the path the tree changed into the ogre he was very angry you'll pay for this he said Josephine walked
on and on it was late now and the sun was going down she was happy soon I'll be at home she thought everyone will be very pleased to see me suddenly she stopped on the path in front of her was a beautiful plate and on the plate was a dinner of fish and honey a lovely spoon was beside it Laura Laura the plate called out aren't you hungry come here and eat your dinner Laura didn't answer she ran to the plate and began to eat the food ran down down her chin she finished the last
bit and stood up that was nice she said I'm so hungry I was staying with my sister and her naughty children her food is very bad she can't cook nicely and her husband eats in a very bad way I don't like to see him he puts all the food in his mouth and it runs runs down his chin she kicked the plate with her foot and went on down the path the plate changed at once into the ogre he was very very angry his eyes were red and his mouth was open you'll be sorry for
this he said I'm going to eat you up then he jumped on Laura and began to eat her he ate ate and he ate he ate her arms and her legs and her body but he didn't eat her head Laura's head rolled down the path it rolled on and on at last it came to her father's house a big crowd of people was there they were guests at Josephine's wedding Laura's head stopped at last in front of Jo Josephine the singing stopped the dancing stopped the guests all ran away then Laura's mouth opened and it
began to sing once I was Laura and now I'm dead look look at my poor little head Oh Sister Josephine you are a bride but I have nothing I have died I'll come and haunt you forever more I'll sing in your roof and cry at your door so catch my head and bury it deep then I'll be at peace then I'll sleep so Josephine caught Laura's head and buried it and Laura never came back to haunt her and Josephine and her husband lived happily together they had many children and everyone loved them
