Many years ago a poor miller fell in love with a beautiful young woman, the daughter of a wealthy townsman living in a Dutch village. The beautiful woman returned the love of the miller. He was charming and generous, a man who earned the respect and friendship of all the villagers.
The handsome young miller was poor but this did not stop him from being generous with what he had – always willing to lend a hand to others.
The beautiful young lady had been promised by her father to another, a rich and elderly landowner. He was not pleased at his daughter’s devotion to this handsome but poor young man. So much so that he forbad his daughter from marrying him and stormed that if she were to do so, she would not be welcome in his house as his daughter.
Each night the beautiful daughter cried herself to sleep but the father was staunch in his resolve not to allow any marriage.
The villagers heard of the plight of the couple of love birds who had decided to wed and came up with a plan. Their poor miller friend had always been there for them and they would not forsake him in his hour of need.
Each and every villager came to the young couple with a gift to help start their married life together. The young girl and her true love were overcome with the generosity of the villagers.
The father heard of this generous outpouring from the village folk and visited his daughter feeling very sad and heavy of heart at what he had done. His daughter greeted him with open arms and forgave her father. Wanting to make up for his behavior towards the couple he threw a party and invited all the villagers who had so generously showered the couple with gifts.
