West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-10-13
Little Princess Sunshine.-Littl,

Little Princess Sunshine.-Little
Princess Sunshine lived i'm a splendid
palace, which was surrounded by the
most delicious garden in the world.
and here she loved to spend greater
portion OF the day, lingering among the
fruits, and fitting from flower to flower
like those other golden sunbeams that
came down from heaven to share
with her the pleasures of that earthly
paradise.
lhe garden was surrounded by ratings
OF pure gold, and the only entrance, ex-
cepting the great gates at the end of
the carriage-drive, was pretty pearl
wicket at the bottom of delightful ar
cade.
This wicket constantly stood open, but
beyond it our little Princess had been
forbidden TO pass
Sunshine never dreamed of disobey-
ing this order.
In the garden she was safe and happy
so beyond il she had no desire To roam.
She frequently, however, went near
the wicket, and one morning CHANGED to
be within few PAGES of itwhen she saw
something round and yellow shining on
the ground.
1t was golden ball.
Charmed with the glittering toy, the
princess stopped to pick it up, but, as she
did so, the ball rolled before her.
Surprised at this, but determined to
be possessed of the novel article, Sun
shine ran after it, and forgetting i'm the
excitement OF the moment that she was
dlsobeying her parents, continued the
pursuit some distance beyond the pearl
wicket
Suddenly the ball stopped, and she be-
came aware of the startling fact that it
was swelling rapidly.
Larger and larger grew the shining
globe, and so quickly that in less than
a minute it appeared bigger than a
house.
This singular and unexpected event
filled the little princess with terror.
Gladly indeed would she have run
back to the pearl-wicket, and re-entered
the garden, but fear deprived her limbs
OF motion, and she felt as if she was
rooted to the ground.
Then, with noise louder and more
alarming than thunder, the ball flew into
a thousand fragments. which were scat
tered far and wide, and the next moment
Sunshine saw standing before her a hid
eous bag, leaning on n crooked stick
The ugly old woman at once advanced
arm in her dirty, horny hand, gave it
violent wrench, exclaiming at the
same time:
Now I've got you'll Come alongl
don't stand any nonsense, you young
brat"
And, raising her stick the bag dealt
our princess so severe q blow that she
screamed with pain.
Disregarcing poor little Sunshine's
cries, she dragged her along the road
uttering threats of punishment, until
at length-just as the sun was sinking
in the west-they reached great forest
Plunging into this, the old woman led
the unhappy princess to a lonely copse,
from which there seemed no escape.
Now" cried she, taking up long
switch, you've worn that fnery long
enough, and been petted too much. /
mean to look after you in futurel Strip
this instant, and wear these rags instead
OF those silks, satins and laces"
And she cast small bundle at the feet
the terrified princess.
Oh, please" cried Sunshine, while
tears streamed from her eyes" oh.
please take me home again, and Pm sure
my parents will reward you HANDSOMELY
On, pray don't take me away from
them"
But instead of being moved by her
distress, the wicked old woman only
flew into a dreadful passion.
WhatW she screamed. Won't Won
do as bid you? I'll teach you to obey
me at once, and that without murmur-
ing. I'll stand no nODsensei OF with
these thingsp
And without further ceremony she
took away all little Sunshine's beautiful
clothes, and then beat her so unmerci-
fully that at length the switch flew TO
pieces.
Perhaps you'll mind what say in
future" painted the cruel old woman.
quite out Of breath. Now, then, look
sharp, and bundle on those rags, unless
you want another Jogging"
Poor Sunshine What resistance could
re offer? Driven almost mad with pain
and terror, she fastened TO fulfill her re-
m0rseless captOrs command, and the
next minute saw her transformed from
happy radiant princess to a miserable
little beggar child-hatless. shoeless
and IN filthy rags.
That's better" said the bag. "but
mark me- ] shall never tell YOU TO do
thing twice. If it isn't done the newt
minute, III thrash you within an inch
OF your life-so just pay attention. If
any one asks who you are, say that am
your grandmother, end that we have to
beg for our daily bread DO you under
stand '
And, raising her stick, she looked 40
fierce that poor little Sunshine was
obliged 90 say Yes"
Then, as you value your skin, don't
forget, for ! shall never let you go out Of
my hearing"
70 saying, the wretched bag took her
by the hand, and together tbey resumed
their journey through the land
For weeks they travelled ON foot
through villages and towns Of which it,
tie Sunshine bad never heard of before
and subsisting entirely upon charity
Great, indeed, were the suherings the
princess had to undergo; for. besides
the misery Of being thus taken away
from her kind friends and magnificent
H. u u Il