The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-10
Fairy Stories for Little Folks
The self-willed Princess.
BY AN oLD-FAsHroNED FELLOW.

There was once princess who had
proud and violent temper, ard who made
everybody about her, in consequence, very
unhappy wheneyeEshe failed in anything
she undertook, orsfnet the least obstacle.
Her fairy grandmother reproyed her with.
out success
!. At last, one day, the fairy said to her, in
fit of anger:
Every we'll, Princess since instruction
has no effect on you, / decree that hence.
forward YOU shall succeed in whatever you
undertake"
II ask nothing MORE" answered the
Princess, laughing loudly and to begin
with, mean now to open that mysterious
black box, into viii CHI my father has never
permitted me to look"
So saying, she went to the mantle, and
was taking down her fathers golden key,
&Nien her father entered the room
What are you doing with my key e
he asked, angrily.
Il am going to open your black box"
answered the Princess, boldly.
The King, on hearing this, was vsry an
CRY; but when be. attempted to reprove
the Princess, for some mysterious reason
he could not say word and the Princess,
perceiving that the fairy's spell was work
ing, opened the box before bis eyes.
Something sprang out and gave her
furious box OIL the ear.
"Ah, daughter, you have ruined lis allP
said the father, in lamentable voice.
'.This is the hideous goblin whom con-
triyed to shut up here, and whom you have
now released"
The Princess for moment knew not
what to say, for she had never seen such
n hidecus creature as the little black figure
perched on the box; but recollecting the
fairy's decree:
"I am to have success in whatever ull-
dertake,n said she; +" SO, goblin, get back
into yonr box"
"With pleasure" answered the horrible
creature and, jumping into the box, the
lid snapped; but he had taken something
with him; what do you think it was 2
Why, the King, the court, the palace, eve
rything but the Princess. How he had
done it, the Princess could not tell, but
they were all gone, aud she was alone.
Not knowing what to do, she began to
walk on, she hardly knew where, till it
grew cold and dark, when she came to
little house all by. itself.
Let me in" said the Princess, knock
ing; but she heard nothing Then she
knocked again, but still there was no an
swer.
Twill enter" said the Princess to her
self; and as she said that, the door flew
opeu. There was q fire on the hearth.
and near it sat an old woman.
You are welcome" said the old woman
!" You must now bake my bread and spin
my flax for me-"
So the Princess rolled up her sleeves and
began to knead the old woman's dough
and spin her fax. She rose early in the
morning, and went to bed late at night, fol
there was so much bread to bake and fas
to spin that she had no time to rest. Al
last she made up her mind to run away
but she could find neither door nor window
She was not discouraged, however, for sill,
thought, am always 20 succeed; and by
and-by she spied little step.
We will sec where this leads to-" sh,
thought.
So she went up, and there was another
She went up that and found another an,
another. Iu this way she walked for
Whole week, till she began to think tina
she wasEgoing up O mountain. Finally sh
came to aprodigions step. She tried to &c
up and then she tried again, and, as usual
will succeedr' she said to herself. A
the same moment she stepped up, am
found herself right on the tip-end of til
horn of the new moon. Oh, then she wa
frightened.
Fairy, fairy, save me!s she cried
1.-The more succeed the worse / am"
| am glad you have found that ont
answered the fairy, picking her up an
carrying her back to the King, her fathe,
who was not in the COLLINS box after al
And let us hope, after this, that our Pril
cess was not quite SO fond her own wa,