A rich merchant lost all his money and had to move to a small house in the country. He had three daughters. Two of them were proud and unkind, but the youngest, Beauty, was gentle and good, and she never complained.
One day the merchant had to travel. He asked his daughters what gifts they wanted. The two older girls asked for fine dresses and jewels. Beauty asked only for a single rose. On his way home, the merchant got lost in a storm and found a great empty castle. Inside, food and a warm bed were ready, as if by magic.
In the morning he saw a beautiful garden full of roses. Remembering Beauty, he picked one. At once a terrible Beast appeared, very angry. "You took my rose!" he roared. "For this you must die — unless one of your daughters comes to live here instead."
The merchant went home and told the sad news. Beauty said at once, "It was my rose. I will go." Though she was afraid, she went to live in the castle. But the Beast was not cruel to her. Every evening he talked with her kindly, and slowly Beauty was less afraid.
The Beast was ugly, but his heart was good. Each night he asked, "Beauty, will you marry me?" Each night she gently said no. Yet she began to like him, and she missed him when he was not near. Still, she longed to see her old father, who was ill.
The Beast let her go home to visit, but he made her promise to return in one week. At home her jealous sisters kept her longer. When at last Beauty came back, she found the Beast lying still in his garden, almost dead from sadness because he thought she would never return.
Beauty cried, "Do not die! I love you." At those words a wonderful thing happened. The Beast changed into a handsome prince. A witch had cursed him, and only true love could break the spell. Beauty had seen the good heart under the frightening face, and they were married and happy ever after.
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