The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-07-23

"Ies lucky for you that you've manage,
to make me laugh said he, for now Tn
not going to quarrel with you; but in re
turn for the disobedience. of your father
who was 80 long in sending you here, 70,
must perform three tasks. Be 90 good a
to build me, this very night, q palace will
marble walls, golden roof, and window
of crystal; there must be a garden al
round it, and ponds in the garden, and il
the ponds, minnows. If you can do it, II
give you my best thanks but if you can
III cut your head off Now be of will
you, and goodnight; it's already late"
"Akl the old wretch!" thought Primo,
John; "see what plan he has hit upon I
and he went into the room which they
had given him in the palace, and sat dowr
very dismally, not knowing what to do
Suddenly bee flew up to the window
beat against the pane. and said, "Let m,
ini" Prince John did so; but instesd o
the bee, in flnated Princess Mary.
"Why, Prince John, what are you look
ing so grave abcut!" asked she
ats not my fault if l am grave" said
he; ado you see what a piece of work
your father has set me! And what il
more, if | can't do it, he's going to cut my
head off"
"Don't put yourself out about that, my
dear prince" said the young lady; "jusi
go to sleep, and the palace shall be built
all right All you have to do is tc
get up pretty early, and give a tap on the
wall with this little hammer"
And sure enough everything happened
Just as she had said. At the first tap ol
the hammer there stood the new palace
all complete; and the Underground King
when he came back and saw it, was not q
little astonished.
joking" said he. "Now let Us see whether
you are as sharp at guessing as you are
skillful at work. Tomorrow I'll range
my thirty daughters in row, and you
must walk past them three times, and the
third time point out my youngest daughter,
Princess Mary. If you can't do it, of
goes your head"
Prince John went to his room, and sat
down to think. "Come," said he, "the
old scare-crow has outwitted himself this
timel what difficulty can there be in
pointing her OUT" Then in futtsred the
princess sgain, and said, "Just this diff
Guilty, that the whole thirty of us are e1-
actly alike; my father himself can only
tell US by our dresses, and tomorrow we
shall be all dressed alike"
"And what am I to do, then? ?" asked
Prince John, dolefully.
"I'll tell you; shall be that one on
whose cheek you see small fly. Good.
night-du recsir."
The next day, when Prince John was
sent for, there stood the thirty princesses
in row, all dressed exactly alike. "Now,
my clever friend" cried the king, abe so
good as to walk past these young ladies
three times, and then pick me out Princess
Mary"
The prince stepped forward, and passed
by them the first time; curious prone
made, upon my word but no fly. He went
by second time-stil no fyi Prince
Johns head began to feel very loose upon
his shoulders; but he gathered all his
courage, and passed for the third time.
And behold there was the fly sure
enough, though he could only just see it.
He pointed to the beauty with the fly, and
said. This is she-Princess Maryl"
"Ohol there's something wrong here 7"
grunted the king. "You have found her
out, it's true but suspect foul play some
where. Now be of, for you'll be wanted
again before long. I'm going to set fire to
some straw, and while it is burning you
must stitch me pair of boots with q
braid, without stirring from the spot. If
you can't de- it, off comes your head"
The prince went back to his room more
dismal than ever, but Princess Nary was
already there, and inquired the cause of
his trouble. "Cause enough" he replied /;
"your father has devised a new piece of
work for me-Pm to stitch pair Of boots
with braid. But am a cobbler, pray :
| am kings son, and would rather die
than 60 stitching boots for him"
"Dear Prince john" said the princess,
"will you be my husbandP l will try TO
save you-are you willing We will es.
cape together, or perish together
Prince John thought this a very good
idea, and agreed at once.
1--WE must fly instantly" said the prin.
cess, and leading Prince John out Of the
room she locked the door, and flung the
key ever so far off Then taking ths
prince by both hands, she rose up in thu
air with him, and they found themselves
beside the same lake whence they had de
scended into the underground Kingdom
the meadow; and as soon as it saw him i
began TO prance and neigh, and came gal
Looping up to him. The prince wasted lit
lie time in thinking, but leaped on hi
horse, set the young lady behind him, ant
went off at full gallop.
Meanwhile, at the appointed hour, tn
king sent to call Prince John. The ser
vsnts found his door locked and whei
they tapped at it, a voice like the prince
answered from within, "I'm coming di
rectly." They went to tell the king, ant
he waited and waited-but no prince
He sent again, and again there was tn
same answer; but still the prince did no
appear; till at last the king got angry
and bade them drag him out by force
The servants broke open the door, ant
found nobody within; so they vent an,
told the king that Prince John was no
where to be found. The king was 81
much put out about this news that he al
but died of vexation. "Quick, and pur
sue him !" roared he; eff he escapes,
shall be the worse for you all 4" So hi
men started in pursuit
The fugitives were still galloping along
when the princess said, softly, IL hear
trampling." The prince leaned down
put his ear to the ground, and cried, "Yes
here they come, and close after US I
"Then there's no time to be lost" quot
she; and forthwith she turned herself int,
river, Prince John into q bridge, and tn
horse into q raven; and beyond the rive
the highway split into three roads Tn
kings men followed the fresh hoofmarkl
making sure of overtaking the prince
but at the bridge they stopped short, 70
there the traces suddenly ended, and tn
road split in three. There was nothin
for it but to ride back and tell the king {
their i'll success. The king flew into
worse rage than before. "Donkeys
roared he, don't you see that they wer
the bridge and the river? How was
that you didn't find that outi Off wit
you-snd bring him back, do you hear I
So the pursuers started again.
al hear trampling," whispered th
princess; and Prince John, after listenin
q moment, replied as before, "Yes. hel
they are close upon usl'' Instantly th
pair vanished, horse and all and in plas
of them appeared dense forest, throug
which ran roads and paths innumerablt
and in the midst of the forest there wa
as it were, the figure of horse carryin
two riders. 1he kings men reached Il
wood, saw (as they thought the two rul
aways, and made all speed to over.sl
them. On flew the pursuers and yo
would have ihought that in another m
ment they must seize the unlucky pail
but no such thing. The horsemen locke
about them and found themselves at Il
entrance of the Underground Kingdor
in the very place whence they had starte
in pursuit In moment everything hs
dissppesred-horse, riders thick WOO
and all