New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-11-20

in his mouth The princess asked what tbi,
meant and moreover. why he CONSTANT,
carried his hands in his girdle.
lie replied that at his court the custom
was even more strongly enforced than hers
and he dared not take anything with hi.
hands, at the most, only with his head and
ieet. Then the princess laughed and said:
I'm this case we will never be able tc
have our little game together
He sighed and answered:
| Not unless you will be pleased to take
something from my boots"
That can never happen" exclaimed the
| whole court
"Why have YOU come hither," asked the
princess, angrily, "when you have such stu.
pid customs 80
Because you are so beautiful" replied
the prince. "And If l cannot win you,
may at least have the pleasure Of seeing
you.'
"On the other hand, have no similar
Qualifications said she.
So the prince remained at the palace, and
he pleaded her more and more, but when the
humor seized her she tried in every manner
to persuade him to take his hands from his
gurdle, and take something from her. She
| also entertained him charmingly, and fire.
quently offered him flowers, bonboDs' and
did he forget and stretch out his hand to take
them, for the pressure Of his girdle reminded
him in time. So he would nod TO his mar
shall, and he receiving them, saying, "We
remember"
Then the princess would become impatient,
and would exclaim: "My handkerchief has
fallen! Can your I.ordship pick 1t up for me?"
Whereupon the prince would fasten his spur
into it and wave it carlessly while the prin-
cess would have to bend and remove it from
his hoof, angrily saying. 81 remember"
Thus year passed away, and the princess
said to herself
This cannot remain so. 1t must De set
tied in one way or the other"
She said to the prince
81 have the finest garden in the world |
will show your lordship over it to-day"
The prince smelt Of his apple, and rs they
entered the garden he said
1T is very beautiful here, and in order
that VIC may walk near each other in peace,
and not be disturbed by the desire to try our
game, l beg you, my lady, that for this one
hour, you will try upon you the custom ofmy
court, and let your hands also be fastened.
Then we will be safe from each others art,
and there will be nothing to annoy u.s.
The princess did not feel very safe about
this arrangement, but he begged so strongly
that she could not refuse him this small favor.
So they went on alone together, with their
hands fastened in their girdles. The birds
sang, the sun shone warmly, and from the
| trees the red cherries hung so low that they
brushed their cheeks as they passed. The
princess saw them and exclaimed:
"What pity that your lordshipiS not able
to pick few for me!'
Necessity knows no law said the prince
and he broke one of the cherries with his
teeth from branch and offered it to the prin-
cess from his mouth.
The princess could not do otherwise than
to receive it from his mouth, and so her face
was brought close to his. SO when she had
the cherry betweea her lips, and kiss from
him besides, she was not able to say that in
slant, 81 remember
Then he cried joyfuily, Good morning,
much loved one," and drew his hands from
his girdlc and embraced her. And they spent
the rest oftheir lives together in perfect peace
and quietness. From the German of Gustav
Freytag.