In a small Spanish home lived Mariquita, her brother, and their father. Mariquita was a cheerful and capable little mistress of the house, proud of their courtyard filled with rare plants. One day, an old woman visited, planting in her mind the desire for a magical fountain of silver water. Though her father and brother protested, Mariquita wept until her brother ventured to fetch it. With the guidance of a mysterious old man, he outwitted a lion and brought back the water, which indeed became a silver fountain.

Yet the old woman returned. Now she insisted the courtyard needed a tree with silver leaves and golden nuts. Again, Mariquita begged, and again her brother journeyed, returning successfully with the help of the same old man.

But the old woman came a third time and whispered of a white parrot of extraordinary beauty. This time, Mariquita’s longing led her brother into danger. When he attempted to seize the magical bird too soon, he was turned to stone in the enchanted garden where it lived.