Once there was a hag who lived on what scraps she could beg, constantly moving from village to village.

One evening, as she was approaching a house, an ant crawled up her leg and spoke into her ear. "Please, my lady, take me and my friends into the house with you. The people living there have sealed tight the entrances against us, and shut us outside. Allow us to hide in your skirts, and we will never trouble you again."

The hag consented, and allowed the swarm of ants to nestle safely in her full, green skirts. Then she approached the house, and called out to the inhabitants: "Please, good people, I am but a weak old woman. For many days the doors have been shut fast against me. If you could take the small trouble of removing the latch from your door, and letting me warm myself by your fire, I would be most grateful."

The woman who lived in the house consented, and allowed the hag in. As they passed through the kitchen, the ants left the hag's skirts, and swarmed into the pantry.

Seeing how old and feeble the hag was, the woman took pity on her and told her to wait by the fire whilst she went to make some broth. As soon as her back was turned, the hag drew a knife from under her shawl and drove it between the woman's shoulder blades, ending her cycle. Then the hag went to the pantry, but the ants had stripped it bare, so she began to gather up the woman's belongings, in order to sell them at market.

At that moment the woman's Mother returned home. "Oh, my daughter, why were you so foolish?" She cried, "I have told you often not to suffer the unworthy. Did you not wonder why others had shut out the hag? You should not have been so trusting."

Then she turned to the hag. "Is this how you repay the hospitality of my Family? Then you shall enjoy it forever." With that She forced the Hag into a trunk, and shut the lid fast.