lady was poor Catherine's Fate.

A few days later, her father suddenly received news that some of his
ships had been wrecked in a storm; a few days after, he learned that
several more of his ships had foundered; and to cut the matter short,
scarcely a month had passed when he was himself deprived of all his
riches. He had to sell all that he had, and this, too, he lost, until at
last he remained poor and wretched. From grief he fell ill and died.

So poor Catherine remained all alone in the world, without a penny, and
with no one to give her shelter. She thought: "I will go to another city
and seek me a place there." So she set out and walked until she came to
another city. As she was going through the streets a noble lady happened
to be standing by the window, and asked her: "Where are you going, all
alone, pretty maiden?" "Ah! noble lady, I am a poor girl, and would like
to find a place to earn my bread. Can you not find use for me?" So the
noble lady received her, and Catherine served her faithfully.

Some days later the lady said one evening: "Catherine, I must go out for
a time, and will lock the house door." "Very well," said Catherine, and
after her mistress had gone she took her work and sat down and sewed.
Suddenly the door opened, and her Fate entered. "So?" she cried, "are
you here, Catherine? and do you think now that I am going to leave you
in peace?" With these words, her Fate ran to all the cupboards, dragged
out the linen and clothes of Catherine's mistress, and tore everything
into a thousand pieces. Catherine thought: "Woe is me if my mistress
returns and finds everything in this condition; she will certainly kill
me!" And in her anguish she opened the door and fled. Her Fate, however,
gathered up all the torn and ruined things, made them whole, and laid
them away in their places. When the mistress returned she called
Catherine, but Catherine was nowhere to be seen. "Can she have robbed
me?" she thought; but when she looked about, nothing was gone. She was
very much astonished, but Catherine did not return, but hastened on
until she came to another city. As she was passing through the streets,
another lady, standing by the window, asked her: "Where are you going,
all alone, pretty maiden?" "Ah! noble lady, I am a poor girl, and would
like a place to earn my bread. Can you not make use of me?" Then the
lady took her in, and Catherine served her and thought now she could
rest in peace. It lasted, howeve