The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-11-30
A'ho Magic Rose and the Silkon
Ladder.
BY MRS. T.. ANDERTOE.

"Onca upon a tlmc," as the old
legends say, there were two princesses
who Q father and mother having died
lett them to the care of their uncle, tho
kings brother who promised always
to love aud protect them. The peo-
pie had idolacA the good king aud
his queen, and the entire nation
mourncd their, death. What, then,
was their sorrow, when few months
Utter it was announced that the
young princcsSes had both taken q
dreadful fever, and died on tho same
day But their uncle, who was now
king yyhad ,sprcIa tho report that
he might keep possession of the
throne.
lie was assisted in his cruel design
bya Genie, who sent him two hateful
dragons 10 place at tho large entrance
gates OF an old palace, whore no stran-
gers cvor vonturcd to approach, and
thero the poor princessos we're piniug
for thor liberty with no attendants
except few black slaves who wero
forbidden to address them. And
when from tho lofty apartments where
they wore imprisoned, the prinoesses
beheld the distant mountains, AND
caught a glimpse of the beautiful
world from which they wcro severed,
and watched the free birds flying
through the air, they turned from tho
window and wept in each others
arms.
"Shall we ever 60 out again, sis
ter ~ said the little princess, who
was quite child, and some years
younger than Annie, the elder ono.
Eel hope SO, Leila, aud each day
cndeavor to send message beyond
our prison, to try if some kind fairy
will assist US. Iark there is lin
net singing his sweet notes above.
llasten, Leila, crumble mo somo
bread.
Leila obeyed, and hcr sister scatter.
ed the bread upon the balcony of the
window.
ooh, linnetg" said Aunic, as the
bird was picking up tho crumbs,
''will you carry to the fairios tho sad
talo of our Imprisonment 3"
The 'lmnet chirpcd few notes in
reply, and spread his wings ready for
flight, but as he rose into tho air a
fierce hawk pounccd down upon the
poor bird and devourcd him.
Annie looked very sorrowful, and
little Leila laid her head upon her
sisters knee and cried.
"Sister," said she, at length, yestor-
day l was looking from one of the
windows on the other side ofthe pal
ace, that overhangs the sea there
watched the gold and silver fish as they
sportcd about in the water. Let US
throw some Of this cake to them"
The fishes rose to the SUI. face, but
alas, only to meet the same fate as
tho poor linnet, for huge shark swal-
lowed them, one after tie other, as
the princess was uttcring the words of
her message. ~
cit is useless" exclaimed Annie,
"thcre is somo wicked Genie, whose
cnchantments are too powerful for any
living creatures to resist, and the
force hawk, and the yet fercer
sank, are here at his command"
One morning, some days after, a
little lady-bird was creeping along tho
balcony where Annie was sitting play.
ing upon her guitar, and singing a
mournful mir. The lady-bird was 80
small, that it escaped tho notice of
the watchful dragons, and cropt on,
and on, Until it reached the feet Of
little Leila. She Was q wise child,
and did not pretend to see the lady
bird until the woman who attended
upon the princcsses had left the room,
then she pointed it out to her sister.
"Lady-bird," said Annie, "will you
60 and tell the sad tale of our suffer.
ings?
The lady bird understood her. and
crept up again to the window, when
down dropped horrible black spi-
der, but the little princess Leila,
who was watching, gave bin su.h a
blow With hor fan that he lay dead ;
thontaway flew the pretty lady bird,
even over the heads of the terrible
dragons. > r,9~1g
Snd whittier did sho fly To
fairy land-and there related the
story of the poor princcsscs and the
cruel king.
"Good little lady-lady-bird," said
the fairy queen, cas- reward for your
services, you shall have u happy home
among the palm leaves in fairy land ;
and when you roam about, we will
watch over your children, so that they
shall never take fire and be burned in
your absence"
Il Beyond that wide river, or rather
arm of the sea, where tho ruthless
shark pursued the gold and silver
fish, there was another country. The
kingnnd l1neon of that realm had an
only son, who was distinguished for
bravery and his virtue and one night
q fairy appeared to him.
'" "Princo Solim," said the fairy,
sriso tomorrow at day-break, and