In a great palace by the sea lived a rich old lord. His favorite daughter died giving birth to a granddaughter, whom he swore never to look upon. He turned his back on the child, weeping by his window until his tears wore a channel in the stone and his long hair bound him to his chair.
The girl, named Tattercoats by the cruel servants, grew up neglected, clothed in rags and fed on scraps. Her only friend was a gooseherd, whose merry pipe music made her forget her troubles and dance with his geese.
One day, news came that the King was holding a grand ball where the Prince would choose a bride. An invitation arrived at the palace. The old lord, upon hearing the King's command, had his hair cut free, dressed in finery, and rode off to the ball, refusing to take Tattercoats despite the old nurse's pleas.
Heartbroken, Tattercoats told the gooseherd of her sorrow. He cheered her with his pipe and suggested they go to town to see the festivities. As they danced down the road with the geese, they met a handsome, well-dressed stranger asking the way to the King's castle. He joined them, and as the gooseherd played a sweet tune, the stranger fell deeply in love with Tattercoats and begged her to marry him.
She laughed and refused, saying a prince should not marry a goosegirl. To prove his sincerity, he begged her to come to the ball at midnight, just as she was, and he would dance with her before everyone.
At the stroke of twelve, Tattercoats, the gooseherd, and the noisy geese entered the splendid ballroom, to the astonishment of all. The stranger, who was the Prince, rose to meet her. He kissed her hand and declared her his chosen bride.
As he spoke, the gooseherd played his pipe. Tattercoats' rags transformed into a gown of glittering jewels, a crown appeared on her head, and the geese became pages holding her train. The King welcomed her as his daughter, and trumpets sounded for the new Princess.
The gooseherd vanished, and the old lord returned to his seaside palace, bound by his oath never to look upon his granddaughter's face. He sits there still, weeping bitterly by the window.