now , when the time came round for the old woman to set out on one of these journeys , she gave each maiden work for six days , with the usual warning : " children , do n't let your eyes wander , and on no account speak to a man , for , if you do , your thread will lose its brightness , and misfortunes of all kinds will follow . " they laughed at this oft - repeated caution , saying to each other : " how can our gold thread lose its brightness , and have we any chance of speaking to a man ? "
their thread would lose its brightness and misfortunes of all kinds would follow .
what did the old lady warn will happen to the maidens if they spoke to a man ?
what did the old lady warn will happen to the maidens if they spoke to a man ?