The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-11-06
PhfRODeMR.
ITS oR1GIN-A BEAUTIFUL STORY.
From the German.l

herself Of her SuitOrs, of whom there
were a great number, she invented the
following device: To every prince who
sought her hand, she presented the half
Of "a double almond, while she ate the
other half, and said: eff your lOrdslIip
can succeed in getting me to take any
Pthing from your hand before | say the
words remember then | am ready to
become your bride. But if, on the con
trary, you receive anything from me,
without thinking to speak these words,
then you must agree to have your hair
shaver entirely off your head and leave
the Kingdom"
This, however, was an artful strata
gem, for, according to the court custom,
no one dared to hand anything directly
to the princess, but first to the court
lady who then offered it to her. But if.
On the other hand, the princess should
desire to give or take anything-whO
could refuse her SO it was useless for
suitOrs to make the trial, for when they
seemed likely to be successful, and 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 wishes to dispose
OF II OF them, she would appear 80
charming and encouraging to him. that
he would be entirely 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 Il frog or a hornet, or a bat, and
so startle him that he would forget the
words. Then, upon the spot, he was
shaven, and away with him. This went
on for some years, and 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 a foreign
prince came upon some peculiar bust
ness. He thought her very beautiful,
and at once perceived the %stratagem. A
friendly little gray man had given him
an apple that once a year he was privi-
legged to smell, and then there came in
his mind II very wise idea, and he had
become much renowned on account of
his deep 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
giving and taking, under no circum-
stances 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 asked to be allowed to eat his al
mOnd. The princess was secretly much
pleased with him, and Immediately
banded him an almond, which his mar
tIhal took and placed in his mouth. The
princess inquired what this meant, and,
why he constantly carried bis
hands in his girdle.
He replied that at his court the custom
eve more strongly enforced than
ut hers, and he dared not to give or take
anything with his hands, at the most,
with only his head and feet. Then the
princess laughed and said:
In this case we will never he able to
have our little game together"
He sighed and answered:
Not unless you will be pleased to
ia Ike something from my boots"
THAT can never %happen!" exclaimed
the whole court.
Why have yOu come hither ~ asked
the princess angrily, when you have
stupid customs? 7"
Because you are so beautiful !" re-
Piled the prince. "And if I cannot win
you / may at least have the pleasure of
you"
ION 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 hum0r seized her, she tried in
every manner to persuade him to take
hands from his girdle, and receive
something from her. She also enter
him charmingly, and frequently
him flowers, bOnbOns and trink-
cts, and finally her bracelet, but not
Once did he forget and stretch out his
to take them, for the pressure of
the giTdle reminded him in time. So he
would nod to his marshal, and he receiv-
.ng them, saying: We remember"
Then the princess would become i'm
and would exclaim "My hand
zerchief has fallen Can your lOrdship
pick it up for me?" WhereupOn the
prince would fasten his spur into it and
wave it carelessly, while the princess |
would have to bend and remove it from
lis foot, angrily saying: 81 remember"
Thus a year passed away, and the
said to herself:
"This cannot remain so. It must be
in n way or the other"
She said to the prince:
81 have one of the finest gardens in
he world. | will show your lordship
sver it to-day"
The prince smelt his apple, and as they
the garden, said:
at is very needful here, and in order
hat We may walk near each other in
,eace, and not be disturbed by the de-
ire to try IL game, | beg yOu, my lady, |
hat for this one hour you will take
IpOn you the custom of my court, and
ct your hands also be fastened. Then
re will he safe from each others art,
md there will be nothing to annoy u.s."
The princess did not feel very safe
bout this arrangement, but he begged
strongly that she could not refuse
lin this small favor. So they went on
Llone together, with their hands fas-
ened in their girdles. The birds sang,
he sun shOne warmly, and from tile
rees the red cherries hung 80 low that
hey brushed their cheeks IA they passed.
The princess saw them and exclaimed,
"What a pity that yOurlordship is not
bile to pick a few for me.'@
Necessity knows no law" said the
and he broke one of the cherries
With his teeth from a branch, and of
cred it to the princess from his mouth.
The princess could not do otherwise
han receive it from his mouth, and so
Ter face was brought close to his. So
when she had the cherry between her
Ups, and a kiss from him besides, she
not able to say that instant, 81 re-
member"
Then he cried joyfnlly, "Good morn
ng, much loved one" and drew his
lands from his girdle and embraced her.
And they spent the remainder of their
together in perfect peace and
I%uietness.