The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-07-24

| suddenly the mouth OF cavern yawned before
them, and they descended together into the Tn.
derground Kingdom, and stopped IN front of a
palace, which was all built of red garnets, and
sparkled brilliantly.
1.-THE THREE TASKS.
Prince John went boldly into the palace and
| saw the Underground King sitting on his throne,
| with claws on his hands instead of fingers and
small green eyes that glittered like emeralds.
Down went the prince on bis knees forthwith.
The king stamped, screamed, and scolded at him;
but he, remembering the counsel of Princess
Mary, kept crawling on all-fours. The Under
ground King made terrible uproar, but Prince
John still crawled and crawled; till at last the
king himself was so tickled at the sight that he
fairly burst out laughing.
'1ts lucky for you that you've managed to
make me laugh" said he, "for now I'm not going
| to quarrel with you; but In return for the
disobedience of your father, who was so long in
sending you here, you must perform three tasks.
Be so good as to build me, this very night, pal
ace with marble walls, golden roof, and win
dOws of crystal there must be a garden around
it, and ponds in the garden, and in the ponds,
minnows. If you can do it, I'll give you my best
thanks but if you can't I'll cut your head off.
Now be off with you, goodnight; it's already
lote."
"Ah the old wretch" thought Prince John !;
'see what plan he has hit uponw and he went
into the room which they had gwen him in the
palace, and sat down very dismslly, not knowing
what to do. Suddenly bee few up to the win
dow, beat against the pane, and said, "Let me
in |" Prince John did 80 but instead of the bee,
in Hoated Princess Mary.
"Why, Prince John, what are you looking 80
grave about 2" asked she.
ut is not my fault if am grave" said no;
"do you see what piece Of work your father has
set me ? And what is 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; 'just go to sleep,
and the palace shall be built all right. All you
have to do is to 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 of the hammer
there stood the new palace all complete and the
Underground King, when he came back and saw
it, was not little astonished.
"Well, you're clever fellow, without 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 q
row, and you must walk past them three times,
and the third time point out my youngest daugh-
ter, Princess Mary. If you can't do 1t, off 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 time what difficulty
can there be in pointing her out?" Then in
auttered the princess again, and said, "Just this
difficulty, that the whole thirty of US are exactly
alike; my father himself can only tell US by our
dresses, and tomorrow we shall be all dressed
alike"
"And what am to do, then ?" asked Prince
John, dolefuly.
"Ill tell you; shall be that one on whose
cheek you see a small fly. Good night-au
recoir"
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, "be 30 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 fra time q curious promenade, upon
my word bu, no fly. He went by second time
still no fly! 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, THAT is She
Princess Mary"
"Oho there's something wrong here !" grunt-
ed the king. "You have found her out, it's true
but l suspect foul play somewhere. Now be of,
for you'll be wanted again before long I'm go
ing to set fire to some straw, and while it is
burning you must stitch me pair of boots with
braid. without stirring from the spot. If you
can't do it, off comes you head
The prince went back to his room more dismal
than ever, but Princess Mary was already there,
and inquired the cause of his trouble. "Cause
enough" he replied "your father has devised
new piece of work for me-Tm to stitch pair Of
boots with braid. But am cobbler, prayP I
am q kings song and would rather die than 20
stitching boots for him! !"
. "Desr Prince john" said the princess, twill
you be my husband will try to save you
are you willing. We will escape together or
perish together ~
Prince John thought this good idea, and
agreed at once.
I'VE must fly instantly" said the princess, and
leading Prince John out of the room she locked
the door, and flung the key ever so far off, Then
taking the prince by both hands, she rose up in
the air with him, and they found themselves be.
side the same lake whence they had descended
into the Underground Kingdom. Prince Johns
horse was straying about the meadow; and as
soon a. 1t saw him it began to prance and neigh,
little time in thinking, but leaped on his horse,
set the young lady behind him, and went off at
full gallop.
Meanwhile, at the appointed hour, the king
sent to call Prince John The servants found
his door looked and when they tapped at it, q
voice like the princes answered from within,
"Im coming directly" They went to tell the
king, and he waited and waited-but no prince.
He sent again, and again there was the same
| answer; but still the price did not appear; till
Ut last the king got angry. and babe them drag
him out by force. The servants broke open the
door, and found nobody within; so they went
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