The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-02-18
PhilOpena.

AAAUpClltts
There was a beautiful princess
who had great tondness for al
nlonds, and ate them constantly, but
nothing would induce her to marry,
and in order to rid herself of her
suitors, of whom there was 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: "Ifyour lord
ship can succeed in getting me to
take anything from your hands be-
fore I say the words Il remember,
then am ready to become your
bride. But if, on the contrary, you
receive anything from me, without
thinking to speak these words, then
you must agree to have your hair
shaven entirely off your head, and
leave.the kingdom"
This, however, was an arttul STRAIT
agem, for, according to the court
custom, no one dared to hand any.
thing directly to the princess, but
first to the court lady, who then of
fered it to her. But if, on the other
hand, the princess should desire to
give anything-who could refuse
her So it was useless for her suit
ors 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. ..ap
When the princess wished to dis
pose of one OF them, she would APP
pear so charming and encouraging to
u hin. seasons world be entirely fas.
lrge yield. Mariana Courier. Age
-cinaJedA -.f1 wneh ne .'efs esC'ner ieeee''
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 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 Tor some years,
and in all the palaces of the other
kingdoms the princes wore wigs.
Thus It come to be the custom from
that time.
Finally it happened that foreign
prince came upon some peculiar bus.
mess, and by accident saw the al
mond princess. He thought her very
beautiful, and at once perceived the
stratagem. A friendly little grey
man had given him an apple
that once year he was privileged
to smell, and then there came into
his mind very wise idea, and he
had become much renowned on &C.
count Of his deep wisdom. So with
the scent from it came this warning
eff thou wouldst win in the
game of giving and taking, under no
circumstances 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 almond. The princess was
secretly pleased with him and inn
mediately handed him an almond,
which his marshal took and placed in
his mouth
The princess inquired what il
meant, and, moreover, why he con-
stantly carried his hands in his girdle.
He replied that at his court the
custom was even more strongly en-.
forced than at hers, and he dared not
give or take anything with his hands
at the most with only his head or
feet.
Theu the princess laughed and
said:
"In this case we will never be able
to have our little game together"
He sighed and answered:
':Not unless you will be pleased to
! take something from my boot"
"That can never happen!' ex-