Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-12-21
The Origin of PhilOpena.
rroM THE GERMAN OF GUSTAV rRrvrAo

FEoM THE GERMAN or GUSTAV FREYrAG.
There was once a beautiful princess who
had great fondness for almonds and ate
them constantly, but nothing would induce
her to marry, and in order to rid herself of
her suitors, of whom there were great num-
ber, she invented the following device TO
every prince who sought her hand, she pres
ented the half Of double almond, while she
ate the other half, and said
If your lordship can succeed in getting
me to take anything from your hand, before
say the words remember then | am
ready to become your bride But if, on the
contrary, you receive anything from me- with
out thinking to speak these words then you
must agree to have your hair shaven entirely
off your head and leave the kingdom"
This, however was an artiul stratagem,
for, according to the court custom, no one
dared to hand anything directly TO the prin-
cess, but first to the court.lady, who then Of
fered it to her. But if, on the other hand,
the princess should desire to give or take
anything, who could refuse her ? So il was
useless for her suitors to make the trial, for
when they seemed likely to be successful, aud
had diverted the princess so that she was
about to take something from them, the court
lady always stepped between, and spoiled the
best laid plan,
When the princess wished to dispose of one
Of them, she would appear so charming and
encouraging to him, that he would he entire
y fascinated, and when he sat at her feet,
overcome with joy, then she would seize upon
anything near her, as though by accident ::
" Take this as a remembrance of me" and
when he had it in his hands, before he could
think or speak the necessary words, there
would spring out at him, from it, perhaps
a frog, or g hornet, or bat, and so starte
him that he would forget the words. Then,
upon the spot, he was shayen, and away with
him.
This went on for some years, aud in all the
palaces of the other Kingdoms the princes
wore wigs. Thus it came to be the custom
from that time.
Finally it happened that foreign prince
came upon some peculiar business, and by ao-
cident saw the almond princess He thought
her very beautiful, and at once perceived the
stratagem. A friendly little gray man had
given him an app that once year he was
privileged to smell, and then there came n
his mind very wise idea and he had be-
come much renowned on account Of his deop
wisdom. Now, it was exactly time for him
to make use Of his apple. So, with the scent
from it came this warning
" If thou wouldst win in the game of CIV
ing and taking, under no circumstances must
thou either give or take anything
SO he had his hands bound in his belt, and
went with his marshal to the palace, and ask
ed to be allowed to eat his almond. The
princess was secretly much pleased with him,
and Immediately handed him an almond,
which his marshal took and placed in his
mouth The princess inquired what this
meant, and moreover, why he constantly car
ried his hands in his girdle.
He replied that at his court the custom was
even more strongly enforced than at hers, and
he dared not give or take anything with his
hands at the most, only with his head and
feet Then the princess laughed and said
In this case we will never be able to have
our little game together"
He sighed and answered:
"Not unless you will be pleased to take
something from my boots
THAT eau never happen exclaimed the
whole court.
"Why have you come hither," asked the
princess, angrily, "when you have such stu
pid customs
Because you are so beautiful" replied the
prince. "And if cannot win you, may at
least have the pleasure Of seeing you"
son the other hand, have no similar
qualification, said she.
So the prince remained at the palace, and
he pleased her more and more, but when the
humor seized her, she tried in every manner
to persuade him TO take something from his
girdle, and receive something from her. She
also entertained him charmingly, and fre
quenty offered him flowers, bonbons, anC
trinkets, and finally her bracelet but no
once did he forget to stretch out his hand tC
take them, for the pressure Of the girdle re
minded him in time SO he would nod t.
his marshal, and he receiving them, saying
:" We remember"
Then the princess would become impatient
and would exclaim my handkerchief ha
fallen Can your lordship pick II up io
me 70 Whereupon the prince would faster
his spur into il, and wave it careessly, whil'
the princess would have to bend and remoy'
} it from his foot, angriy saying | remem
ber."
Thus a year passed away, and the princes
said to herself
, This cannot remain so. II must be set
tied in one way or the other"
She said to the prince
"l have one of the finest gardens in tn
world. will show your lordship over it to
day.
The prince smclt of his apple, and as the.
entered the garden, he said
at is very beautiful here, and in orde
that we may walk near each other in peace
and not be disturbed by the desire to try on
game, | beg you, my lady, that, for this on
, hour, you will take upon you the custom o
my court, and let your hands also be fastcn
, cd. Then We will be safe from ea,h other
art, and there will be nothing to annoy US
The princess did not feel very safe abou
, this arrangement, but he begged so strong
D that she could not refuse him this smal
0 favor. So they went on alone together, wit
] their hands fastened in their girdles.
The birds sang the sun shonc warmly, an
from the trees the red cherries hung SO lo'
, that they touched their checks as they passed
T The princess saw them, aud exclaimed,
4 "What a pity that your lordship is nc
/, able to pick few for me f"