The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-12-20
Sflert o ate.
TIE STORY OF THE THREE WON
DERFUL COMPANIONS.
A BOHEMIAN FAIRY LEGEND.
lrnoM oNCE A MEtX.l

lav he called his son and said:
Ny dear son, thou knowcst that ripe
fruit iulls in order to make roo''' forOthcr.
Myheadisgrowirgril e'day by day and
perhaps ere long the sun will shine oi
II no more; but before die / would
lady behold my future daughter, thy
wife. Take to thyself II wife my SON"
And the prince answered:
Gladly, o, my father! would fnl.
fill Thy wish, but have rs yet no bride.
| know not one"
The king then thrust his hand in %
his pocket, and drew thcreirom gold
IN key, which he gave to his son, say.
ing:
"Go up into the highest room in the
tower, land when thou art there, cast thy
eyes around thee and tell me which of
the brides which thou shalt there see
pleases thee most
The prince departed Immediately.
He had never before been in the tower.
and knew not what was there to be
seen.
When he had reached the highes;
chamber but one, he beheld on the cei-
ling a small iron door like lid, and it
was locked but he unlocked it with
the golden key, lifted it up, and went
in through it.
There was large round room, the
roof of which was as blue as the sky on
clear Winters night, and silver stars
glittered upon it. The floor was COW
cred with a green siken carpet, and
the room had twelve high windows in
golden framework; I; in each window II
virgin was painted on crystal glass in
the lovelie5t rainbow colors, with roy
al crown on her head, and in each win.
dow was also another upon II different
ground, but each was more beautiful
than the other, so that the prince was
quite dazzled. And as he was gazing
on them in full astOnishment, not know
ing which to choose, the lovely figures
began to move like living beings, and
looked toward him and smiled upon
him az If they wished to speak.
Then the prince saw that one of the
windows WAS concealed by white cur
tain, which he drew aside in order to
see what was behind it.
There stood a virgin dressed in white,
with silver girdle round her wais, and
Il crown of pearls upon her head. She
Was the loveliest Of all, but sad and
pale as If she had risen from the grave.
The prince stood long gazing on the
iig re, and seemed like one in a dream,
and while he WAS thus looking at her
his heart was sorely grieved, and he
aid, "llcr alone will / choose, ard NO
other" And as soon as he had spoken
these words the virgin bent her head,
and red nue. like tnat OF "a rose sprea,.
over her checks. Al the same moment,
all the other til ure, vanished.
After he had lett the tower and re
turned 10 the king, his iather, he toll,
ann All thar he had seen, and whIcn U.
The virgins he had chosen. Then In,
Odd King was filled with sorrow, but in
n moment he raised his mead and said
Thou hast chosen iii, my sou, and
done wrong in uncoverins that which
was colceaied. Thou wit also myc,
with great dangers for the words thou
hast spoken. This virgin is in the pow
er OF a wicked Magician, Imprisoned
within AN iron castle, and none of those
VINO have gone 10 set her free have even
returned TO their homes again"
The prince now departed from the
king, his father, and rode forth toward
tine iron castle that he might obtain his
bride. When he had got II long way
on his journey he came to Il dense wood
and rode into 1t until at length he lost
his way. And as he was wandering
through the wood and amongst rocks,
not knowing which way to turn, he
heard voice behind him shout:
"Halloa, there! stop!"
The prince turned round and beheld
a very tall man who was fastening to.
ward him.
"Wait and take me with YOU" said
the voice. "lf You take me into your
service you will never have cause 10 re.
pcnt it,"
"Who art thou?" cried the prince I;
"and what can'st thou do ?"
81 am called LongbOdy and can stretch
out my limbs TO n great length. DO
you see the birds nest yonder at the
top of that high iir-tree?, | can reach
it down for YOU without having to
climb the tree"
And thereupon he began stretching
himself out, and his body rapidly grew
longer and longer, till he was as high
MS the tree itself. Then he reached forth
his hand to take the nest, and when he
had taken il his body shrunk in again,
and he handed the nest to the prince.
"rhou understandest thy business
well" said the prince; "but what l..
the use of birds nests to me, if thou
canst not help me out of lhe torest?"
ellen that is easy enough replied
Longbody, and he stretched himself
again till he was three times as tall as
the tallest tree in the forest. He then
looked around and, pointing in certain
direction, said, "Fr0m yOnder side II
the nearest road out of the wood"
Then he drew himself in again, took
the horse by the bride, and went on IL
front. Before the prince had time u
observe it they had already lett the for
est behind them. Before them lay e
great plain backed by high gray rocks
like the walls of Il large town, and
mountains covered with forests.