South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-03-14
The Beautiful Step Daughter.
4 SIBERIAN STORl.

oeCaube sue was more DeautuuI than her
own daughter, whom she had brought With
her into the house. by and by, the father
learned also TO hate his own child; he
scolded her and beat her just TO please bis
wife. One day his wife said to him:
Let Us send your daughter away! Let
her look out for herself in the world -
where can we send her Where can
the poor girl 90 sloueF
If you will not do this, husband, | will
live no longer with you. You had better
take her to morrow out of the house. You
can lead her into the forest, and then steal
away from her and hurry homev
She said this so often that at last he
consented, but said:
AT least prepare the girl something for
her journey, that she may not die the first
day from hunger
The step mother therefore made cake,
aud the next morning early the father led
the girl far away into the very heart Of the
forest, and there left her and went back
home. The poor girl, left alone. wandered
all day about the wood, but could 6nd no
way out of it.. When it grew dark, she
got up into tree TO pass the night, fearing
lest some wild beasts would eat her il she
remained Oh the ground. And, indeed
all night long the wolves were bowling un
der the tree, so that the poor girl trembled
so much that she could scarcely keep her
self from falling.
When day dawncd, she descended from
the tree and walked on again, hoping to
find some way out of the forest But the
wood grew thicker aud thicker, aud seemed
to have no end. In the evening, " hilc she
was looking for tree in which she might
remain safely over night, all at once she
saw something shining in the forest So
she went on, hoping TO find some shelter
and at Length came to fine large house.
The gates were open, so she went in, and
Walked through a great many ROOMS, each
one more beautiful than the other. On a
table IN one room she found candle burn
lug. She thought this must be the house
of some robbers; but she was not afraid,
for she reasoned with herself:
Rich men have reason to fear robbers,
but L have none; will tell them that |
will serve them gladly for piece of bread
Then she took the cake from her bag,
said grace and began to eat. Just as she
bad begun to eat, a cock came into the
room, and sprung upon the table to reach
tho cake, so the gill crumbled some Of it
Tor him. Then a little dog came, and
jumped quite friendly upon her, 80 she
broke piece from her cake for the little
dog, and took him on her knee and petted
and fed him. After that came 10 cat al
so, and the girl fel her too. At last she
heard great noise, ps if some great beast
was coming, and was greatly frightened
when lion came into the room. But the
lion moved his tail in such friendly way,
and looked 50 very kindly, that sbc took
heart, and offered him a piece of cake -
The lion TOOK it, and began to lick her
hand, aud the girl had no longer any fear
OF hun, so she stroked him gently and fed
him with the cake. Suddenly she heard
great noise Of weapons, and almost swoon-
ed as creature in a bear-skiu entered the
room. The cock, the dog, the cat, and the
loo all ran to it unfortunately, showing in
all possible ways their great Joy. The
poor girl thought it very strange beast.
and expected it would jump upon her and
kill her. But the fearful thing threw tho
bcarskin from its head and shoulders, and
all the room shono and gittored with it's
golden garments. The poor girl almost
lost her senses when she saw before her q
handsome man beautifully dressed. But
be came up to her aud said:
DON'T be afraid, my dear I am not n
bad man | AIN the son Of the king, and
when / wish to hunt come here and use
the bearskin "a a disguise, lest tho people
should recognize me Those who see me
believe that | am 4 ghost, and run away
from me. No one dares n come into thi.
house, knowing that often come here -
You are the ouly person who has venturcd
in. How did you know that am not q
ghost2'
Then she told him she had never heard
OF ban or Of the house, but that Der step,
mother bad driven her away from home
and she told him all that had happened {,
her When no heard this he was very soT
~, and said
Your step-nothor hated you, but Goo
bas been kind TO you. I will marry yor
u you will DO my Wife--Will your
yes ! she replied
: Next day he took her to her father,
palace and married her After some tim,
sho begged 20 20 and see her father. s.
her husband allowed her 70 GO, aud sh,
dressed herself al in gold and went 10 bel
fathers house. The father happened .,
be awsy from home, and The step moibet
seeing her comioe, Wss sfrsid lest she bsc
come 20 revenge herself. So she hurried
/ 70 meet her, and said
/ You sec that it was l Who sent you OF
the way 10 happiness
The steP-daugh,er kissed Der, and en-
braced her half-sister. The girl said Sd,
. -