Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-16
MONTPELIER, VT, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 49, 1874
The Dumb Princess.


Long ago, a king-or. as some say, q very
/ wealthy man. but it does NOT matter which
/ though q king sounds better-had an only
| child, q daughter, the heircss OF all his
wealth, who could not or would not speak.
| lie tried all means to cure her, but in vain.
| At last he sent forth n proclamation that
whoever, being in fitting degree, could re-
store speech 10 his daughter should marry
| her, and eventually be lord of all her fathers
wealth. Many tried, but all failed. At last
q prince who had q magic gift, that Of caus-
ing things iuanimate to talk with him, came
forward, and was admitted To- the hall where
the princess was. lie spoke To her, and tried
TO induce her to speak but answer he got
none
Now lamp was hanging IN the hall. and
10 it the prince good hmnordly addressed
himself. Lamp said he, 81 will tell you
a story"
Say on replied the lamp.
Well, went on the prince, four travel
ers--a carpenter, painter, cloth merchant
aud a ieweler-sct ont ON o Journey. By
aud-by they came to rest house, halted
there and prepared their food The keeper
of the rest house had laid on the floor a log
Of wood very suitable for carving, The car
penter seeing tins, pulled out his carving
gear and carved the log into the shape of
woman, life size, and exquisitely beautiful.
The painter next took his brushes and color.
and painted the figure till II shone as bril-
liantly fairas goddess. Then the cloth mer-
chant opened his packages, chose the finest
silks and embroidered robes and dressed the
figure in his choicest dapery The ieweler
took iem4 earrings, necklaces and bangles,
and all such things, and bcdccked the figure
I s.f
dowed with life. do not take upon me 10
explain how that came about, but such was
the fact "
" No more do !, said the lamp; but pray
GO on. hate digressions."
"Wheu." continued the prince, that ex-
quisitey beautiful being burst into life, all
the four fell violently in love with her and
each wished TO make her his wife.
"Why, shaped the matchess figure, said
the carpenter.
"' And bestowed upon her that beautiful
compilation. retorted the painter.
"' And robed her. exclaimed the mer-
chant
"' But what are yo-r choicest robes to the
costly gems which were my gifts? woman
is ot little account without jewel,N cried the
ieweer.
Thus they went ON camorng and dis
putting. Now, O lamp who was to declare
the rightful owner?"
First, the lamp said one, then another
giving rcasons-and whatever the lamp said
the prince contndcted The dispute waxed
hot and furious, but seemed never to come
nearer TO the end.
The princess heard all the dispute, and
held her peace long time. At last she
could bear to keep silent no longer So she
cried You are both silly The true owner
was none Of the four, but the keeper Of the
rest-house for to him the wood she was made
Of belougedw
" Ah- yes, said theprince, you are IN the
right, my princess And now that you have
spoken, let me claim my reward, and take
You for my wifew So they went before the
king who was enchanted with the cure; and
they We're married straightway and lived
happy ever afterward- at least, it is said
the princess never gave her husband any
cause, after marriage. 10 repoach her for too
persistently holding her peacei"