Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-06
4 Story with u Moral.

4 Story with Il Moral.
Once upon time there was king who had
three sons. They were all three exactly alike
and they all three loved the same princess.
When the two elder brothers heard of their
youngest brothers love, they seized upon
every opportunity Of rdiouling him aud put
ting him down, just as the naughty sister did
Cinderella
The Princess Anna was young and simple
hearted, and fell in love with all three Of the
brothers.
When the three princes went to ask for the
hand Of the fair Anna, tho worthy old king,
her father could not tell what to do. So he
asked for three days to consider, and ran of
that very evening to his aunt, the Fairy Of
the Forest. Her word was law.
The three princes were ordered to appear
the next day, as the clock struck one they
were to present their suit in writing.
This was very annoying TO the two elder
brothers. who could neither read nor write.
So they each called in an artist to write the
letter aud the formal suit in colors, and orna-
ment them with gold and aourishes
The youngest sou wrote bis letter with his
own hand, without ornament or flourish, but
with warmth and feeling just as the outpour-
iugs Of his heart. This letter was as beauti-
full a one as You could imagine.
But outwardly the three letters were all to
be alike, one like the other, just as the BROTH
ers were.
This the fairy and the old King had deter
mined.
At the appointed time the two naughty
brothers each galloped off by himself to the
Princess Anna, both mounted on splendid
gray horsesi they paraded their letters proud
ly before them in velvet cases.
The youngest son went on foot, and kept
his letter carefully in his pocket.
On the way to the castle there was a deep
lfsh-pond, surrounded by rushes. A poor
woman sat in boat there, fishing.
She leaned forward, overbalanccd herself
aud fell into the water just as the eldest
prince passed along the road. She cried out
piteously for help he might have saved her
with little trouble, but he rode on his way.
/ When the second brother passed along the
road, an iucautious old woman was again fish.
/ ing in the little lake She fell into the wa.
ter, and cried piteously for help, but the
prince rode past.
The youngest son also came to the lake
There sat the old woman again. and fished
and fell into the water. The young prime,
saw her stagger and fall he forgot his letter
the fair Anna, aud the danger too, plunge,
into the water aud brought the poor old wo.
man out safely
lie was Mortified at the sight fhis dripping
muddy clothes. However, there was no tim,
to lose The old castle bell was booming il
the distance; the appointed hour hadarriyed
So he ran and strange to tell, the more h
ran the more his clothes gistened The mu,
all seemed to turn to gold, and the drops o
water hung like gems about him. BY tn
time he reached the castle his face was it, W
with rosy smiles. Tho old king and the cour
tiers and the Princess Anna could not turi
their eyes away from him. As for the tw,
brothers, they grew pale with envy.
Then the old king gave the signal. Tn,
Princess Anna's baby-sister was to choose fror
among the three letters. So it had been de
cidcd by the kings aunt the Fairyo of the For
est. The one whose letter She chooses is tn
right husband, she had said
The Princess Anna would rather have Ia
ken the youngest son at once, bat as tha
could not be, she sat looking sad,
The priucess' little sister was now CARRIE
into the hall.
The three princes passed before heraccord
ing to their ages The two elder brother
presented their letters in splendid cases O
velvet. When the youngest brother produce,
his letter, it was soaked through with tn
j ] al