Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-12-23
NO. 8.


old times, was fortunate enough to b
blessed with fairy godmothel
Though this highly favored younl
gentleman had all manner Of NC
things at his command, and whatever
he had not could easily get by the ask
ing, though he was petted and praised
and treated with all due homage at his
fathers court, he was. so unreasonable
as to be unhappy. Everything tina.
could be thought of to give him pleas
IRE had been tried in vain, and at last
all the most beautiful young ladies in
the kingdom were summoned to the
palace that he might select one for his
princess, for it was; thought that if he
could only get a wife to his taste all
his melancholy would depart'and he
would be happy for the rest OF bis life
But the poor fellow did not care but.
ton for ladies society or the pleasure
of the court, and much preferred to
wander off alone by the shore of the
loud roaring sea OF to climb to the
tops of the highest mountains.
At last he resolved to go to his fairy
god-mother to see if she could rot
give him some relief from the thoughts
that continually preyed upon his mind.
Lie found her in lonely wood some
distance from the palace, and told her
that he longed to be doing noble deeds
Of daring which should prove a benefit
to mankind, and that he could not be
happy till he was thus engaged. So
the good fairy sent him forth into the
world in quest of heroic adventures,
giving him for his protection beauti.
full sword, which she called the sword
Of truth, and charging him never to let
its bright blade become furnished or
its keen edge dulled.
This occurred about the time that
the hapless Christabel fell into the
hands Of the cruel Pukket. 1t was
now the very last day Of her period Of
trial. We may easily believe that her
lnind was more firmly fixed than ever
i'll the determination to refuse to we6
the wicked monster in whose power she
lay.
So now she sat in her cell with the
collar of gold still round her neck,
waiting his coming in hopeless despair.
In hopeless despair so far as any ex-
ternal happiness III this world was cons
cerned, though the sweet satisfaction
Of doing right gave her calm and
peace, and nerved her to resolve to
bear with patience whatever suffering
might be inflicted upon her.
Often and ofen during the long
dreary months had she called out at
the top Of her voice in order to save
some victim of Pukkets from destruet-
ion wheu she heard the cIang of the
fatal golden doors, but always in vain.
They had all been too eager to rush
forward and see the wonders that lay
beyond these mysterious portals TO
stop q moment before it was too late.
Thus, among the rest, she had cried
on, to her father and grandfather when
they game to the castle, though the
fash of lignc as the doors swung open
had been SO blindi..., that she had not
reco nized either of thHu1-
And so she was sitting in her dung
con, sad and forlorn, as the hours prept
slowly by on this last day of the twelve
months, expecting each mornent to find
the grim yisaged dwarf beeide her, de-
handing her decision when it 50
CHANGED that the prince, after many
gallant adventures in various parts of
the world, happened to come in sight
of Castle Curious, and as PRICES were
no better proof against the fatal at.
traction or the great eye in the tower
than anybody else, he was SO on making
rapid strides toward it.
Having entered the grand hall like
Chrisfabel and so many others before
him, he Immediately went up to the
golden doors, and was about to rush
forward into the darkness, when he
heard the voice of the maiden call cut
to him in the most piteous tones 10
stop ere he was lost. This time Christ
able's cry Of warning was not in vain.
It's heartrending entreaty pierced his
very soul, and though one foot was
already on the brink Of the pit, he was
saved from making the fatal plunge.
AS be heard the cry and groans OF
Pukket's wrotchcd victims rising from
that Gulf Of despair beneath him, he
shuddered to think what lie had es-
capped, and at once FASTENED to the spot
whence proceeded the kindly voice 10
thank the owner for his kind preserves
ton. From Christabel he learned the
story of the dwari's crueliies, and then
immediately inquired where he might
find the monster, for he ionged with all
his heart to rid the kingdom and the
world of such pest. When she re-
Piled that he spent most Of his time in
the highest tower of the castle, where
the wonderful eye was set up as she
had been informed by the daughters Of
Malicia and Pukkett-he lost no Tim,
10 finding the stairs leading up to ii,
and at once eagerly commenced mount.
ing them.
On the top of the tower. in a lille