Ashpet, An Appalachian Tale

retold by Joanne Compton; illustrated by Kenn Compton

Book reviews Story Characters Use of Magic Country of origin & printable map Related Books

Horn Book, September, 1994
In Compton’s version of the Appalachian Cinderella tale, the doctor’s son falls in love with Ashpet, the hired girl, at a church meeting, while Granny, a neighbor from over the ridge, presides as fairy godmother with the help of a big, black bird. The text suggests mountain speech, and the cartoonlike figures, with their exaggerated features and actions, emphasize the story’s humor.

Kirkus Review, 1994
The Comptons’ “Ashpet” differs less from Richard Chase’s version of this Cinderella variant than their Jack the Giant Chaser (1993) diverged from Chase’s parallel tale; here, they simply change the “witch-woman” to an old neighbor called “Granny” and the king’s son (a standard character in these mountain tales) to a doctor’s son and omit Ashpet’s further persecution and the punishment of the perpetrators, after her wedding. Their text reads smoothly, but the occasional touches of dialect aren’t enough to give it the rich humor and verve of Chase’s rendition. Storytellers will want to stick with Chase; however, young readers will enjoy this lively and accessible version, as well as Kenn Compton’s big-nosed, comically exaggerated characters. Good source note.

Ashpet, a servant girl, lived in a cabin in Eagle Nest Mountain. She was hired to do all of the chores by the Widow Hooper who had two daughters, Myrtle and Ethel. Myrtle and Ethel were ugly and lazy. Ashpet was attractive. The two girls were so jealous of Ashpet that they would stick her under a washtub whenever company would arrive so no one would see her.

In the hot months of summer, everyone would always gather for a big church meeting. Widow Hooper and her girls would always wear their best outfits, pack a picnic hamper, and attend the church meeting. They would always leave Ashpet behind to do the chores.

One year Ashpet was so busy washing, ironing, and mending the girls’ dresses that she did not notice the fire go out in the fireplace. Widow Hooper was so mad that she sent Myrtle over to old Granny’s house to borrow some fire. Myrtle protested to her mother that getting the fire was Ashpet’s job. Widow Hooper reminded her that they needed Ashpet to finish their dresses. Without the fire, they would be unable to heat water for their baths.

When Myrtle arrived at old Granny’s house, she kept a safe distance back. She hollered to Old Granny to give her some fire. Granny yelled back for her to come in and brush her hair. She told Granny she would not come in. She insisted old Granny give her the fire. Because she was so uppity, old Granny refused. Myrtle went home with no fire.

Widow Hooper was so angry, she sent Ethel to fetch the fire from Old Granny. When Ethel arrived, she too refused to brush old Granny’s hair. She ended up going home with no fire.

When Ethel arrived home with no fire, the Widow Hooper angrily pushed Ashpet out the door and told her to get the fire. When Ashpet arrived at old Granny’s house, she introduced herself and politely asked for the fire. Old Granny again asked for her hair to be brushed. Ashpet took the brush and began removing all the tangles from Old Granny’s hair. When she was finished, Ashpet asked for the fire. Old granny told her take whatever amount she wanted.

When Ashpet arrived with the fire, the water was heated. Widow Hooper and the girls bathed, dressed, and left for the church meeting.

A few minutes after they left, there was a knock at the door. As she opened the door, old Granny entered, tapped her cane three times, and walked out of the door. As she left, the door slammed shut, and the house began to shake and make all kinds of noise. Just then, the door flew open. Everything was clean. The dishes were washed, dried, and put away. The clothes were clean and folded. The beds were made, and the floors were swept. Next to the fireplace were a red calico dress and a new pair of red shoes.

Old Granny told her to get changed and get to the meeting. As old Granny left, Ashpet rushed and put the pretty red dress and shoes on. After admiring herself in the old mirror, she rushed to get to the church meeting.

Once Ashpet arrived, the preacher was already talking. She quietly sat in the back. Because she was so pretty, whispering could be heard and even the doctor’s son turned around to look at Ashpet.

When the preacher stopped talking, everyone found a place to eat her supper. Widow Hooper and her daughters insisted that the doctor’s son share their basket. The doctor’s son only had eyes for Ashpet. The doctor’s son took their basket, thanked them, and rushed over to Ashpet. This made the Widow Hooper and her daughters so angry, they headed home.

Ashpet and the doctor’s son found a quiet spot to eat. As the night went on, they talked and laughed. As they were walking, Ashpet remembered the warning about her midnight deadline. So, as she walked by a bush, she kicked off one of her red shoes.

Ashpet informed the doctor’s son that it was late, and she needed to go home. He insisted that he be allowed to walk her home. Ashpet agreed, but first he needed to find her missing red shoe. As he searched, Ashpet ran home.

When Ashpet arrived at the cabin, she hid her red dress and put her rags back on. As she went to sleep, she left the remaining red shoe on.

The next morning, Widow Hooper and Ethel woke Ashpet up demanding to know where she was when they got home from the church meeting. They angrily insisted Ashpet get up and make their breakfast. Just as Ashpet began her chores, Myrtle came running into the house shouting that the doctor’s son was coming down the road toward their house. Widow Hooper immediately had her daughters dress for his visit. Being embarrassed by Ashpet’s appearance, she shoved her under the washtub until the doctor’s son left. Finally, there was a knock at the door, and Widow Hooper sweetly left the doctor’s son in. He was searching for the girl from the church meeting who fit the red shoe. Of course, Widow Hooper knew it was one of her daughters. She had them both try on the red shoe, but it would not go on. As he was leaving, a crow swooped down and grabbed the red shoe. It flew and flew until it dropped the red shoe by the washtub. As the doctor’s son jumped to catch the red shoe, he tripped over the washtub exposing Ashpet and the other red shoe. The doctor’s son swiftly tried the shoe on Ashpet. It was a perfect fit. He immediately asked Ashpet to marry him. The Widow Hooper angrily protested the marriage. She screamed that Ashpet was hired out to her for two more years. Upon hearing this, the doctor’s son threw a purse of money to the Widow Hooper and took Ashpet away. From that day on, the word was spread throughout Eagle Nest Mountain about Ashpet’s terrible treatment from Widow Hooper and her daughters. The people in the area made so much fun of them that they were shamed into moving over to Crabtree Cove. The doctor’s son and Ashpet lived happily ever after.

Ashpet - She was a serving girl who was hired out to Widow Hooper. She was given a lot of chores to do by Widow Hooper and her two daughters. She was fresh-faced and regular featured. She had to prepare everything so Widow Hooper and her daughters could attend the church meeting. She had to get fire from Old Granny because the two daughters failed. She was kind to Old Granny and got the fire. Old Granny helped her get to the church meeting. Ashpet met the doctor’s son and married him.

Old Granny - She was an old lady that they had to get fire from. Both of Widow Hooper’s daughters were mean to her and did not get the fire. Ashpet was kind to her; so, she allowed her to take the fire. She helped Ashpet get to the church meeting.

Ethel and Myrtle - They ordered Ashpet around like a slave. They were ugly and lazy. They were jealous of Ashpet. They often made her hide under the washtub when there was company. They had to get fire from old Granny but failed. They were rude to Old Granny. They were angry at the doctor’s son; so, they went home after the church meeting.

Widow Hooper - She had Ashpet as a servant girl. She worked Ashpet hard. She made her daughters go to old Granny’s house for fire. She was angry at the doctor’s son; so, she left the church meeting and went home. She wanted to beat Ashpet.

Doctor’s son - He wanted to spend time with Ashpet after the church meeting. He fitted the red shoe on all the girls hoping to find Ashpet. When he fitted the red shoe on Ashpet, he asked her to marry him. He paid Widow Hooper for Ashpet’s freedom.

The use of magic occurred when Old Granny knocked on Ashpet’s door. When Old Granny entered, she tapped her walking cane on the floor three times. Then, she walked back outside. The door slammed, the house shook, and a lot of noise came from the house.

When the door was opened, the cabin was straight. Dishes were done, and clothes were clean. Next to the fireplace was the prettiest red calico dress and red shoes. Those red shoes are what helped the doctor’s son find Ashpet and marry her.

Go to a Printable Map of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, etc. (Appalachian Region)

According to Somerville, “you’ll find plenty of hog, poultry, and sheep farms nestled in the region’s many valleys” (10-11). In the beginning of the story, the reader learns that it is one of Ashpet’s many jobs to tend to the animals.

People of the Appalachian region “made their own tools, built their own homes from available materials, and created their own entertainment” (Thompson 33). Perhaps this would explain the big “shindig”. Also, Ashpet lived in a log cabin, suggesting tht it was built by the family.

“The mountain people remained self-sufficient for many years” (Thompson 33). Thoughout the story Ashpet is attending to her many chores like tending to the animals, mending clothes, etc…

Somerville, Barbara. West Virginia. New York: Children’s Press, 2003.

Thompson, Kathleen. West Virginia. Texas: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 1996.