The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-08-06
King ROughbeard.

beautiful beyond measure, but so naughty
and proud that she considered no man
good enough to marry her. She pre-
tended to accept, one after another, the
suitors who approached her, and then
treated them with mockery and scorn.
At last her father, the king, made great
feast, and invited all the most illustrious
men for miles round to be present. All
of them were introduced to the proud
young princess by their rank. First, the
king of neighboring country, then
duke, then a prince, and, after these, no.
bles of high position.
But the princess, when asked to choose
for herself, had some fault to find with
each. One was too fat, another too thin,
third was short and thick, and fourth
had face as pale as a ghost; and 80 on,
till they all went away quite offended, ex-
cept one son of the king of a neighboring
countryside highest of them all. Now
the princess, in her heart, liked this one of
her suitors best, but she made no differ
ence in her manner to him. The young
prince had very good-looking face, but
his chin was a little crooked, and he had
rough beard.
"Ohp said the young princess, when
she saw he still waited after the Others
were gone, "what a chin he has, to be
sure; Just like birds beak shall call
him King Roughbeard )" and she laughed
heartily as she spoke.
The young prince turned away, without
q word, to show he was offended but
report of what the princess had said soon
got about, and people called him King
Roughbeard from that day.
After the feast was over, and the king
found that not only had his daughter dis
missed all her lovers, but that she had
Knocked and insulted his guests, he was
very angry, and took an oath that his
daughter should take as husband the
first poor wayfarer who came to the cas-
tie. A day or two after the princess
heard the sound of music under her win
dow. The king also heard it, and said,
$50 at once and fetch the musician in"
The servants obeyed, and presently re.
turned with wandering minstrel, who
played and sang before the castle in hopes
of receiving an aims. He was dressed in
soiled and ragged clothes, but the king
made him stay and sing to them, and
when he had finished he asked for a lit
tie gift.
1Coy ICpllOO uuO hlDSy JOu quail no
rewarded. Your song has pleased me 80
well that / will give you my daughter to
be your wife,"
The princess was terrified at her faith.
er's words, and would have rushed from
the room, but the king prevented her.
"No," he said, "you shall not escape;
took an oath that you should marry the
first wayfarer who came to the door, and
will keep my word"
All objections on the princess part were
useless. The priest was sent for, and she
was obliged to plight her troth to poor
minstrel.
As soon as this was accomplished the
king said to his daughter, "Now that you
are the wife of poor man, you will see
how unfit you are to remain in my castle
You must therefore depart at once with
your husband"
The musician took her by the hand, al
the king spoke, and led her away to trave
on foot for long distance. At length
they came to the borders of an extensive
forest, which the young wife knew be
longed to King Roughbeard.
"Ah, me !" she cried "this wood be
longs to the prince that Knocked and in
suited. All poor delicate creature that
am If had only married him when h,
wanted me
By.and-by they entered a meadow, ant
she made the same lament, for it be
longed to King Roughbeard. But whel
at last they came to large city, nea
which was his palace, the repeated Ia
mentstion at length annoyed her husband
at is not pleasant to me to hear yo
constantly wishing that you had msrrie
some one else; am l not good enough TO
you ?"
She made no reply, and they continue
to walk on till she was quite tired, and q
last her husband stopped before mea
little house.
"What are we stopping here for?" sh
asked; "whose wretched house is this
at is my house and yours" he replied
"where we must live together" and b
led her in, but the door was 30 low ths
they had to stoop as they entered.
"Where are the servants ?" asked th
kings daughter.
"What servants ?" replied her hu
band. "You must wait upon yourse
now; and you will have to do all ii
work-to light the fire, to fetch the waite
and cook my dinner, for am too tired
help you"
The princess was being punished no
for her pride. Her husband, although /
could sing, looked so repulsive in h
ragged clothes, and with his face tied U
rs if he had the toothache, that she d
not care to do anything for him. Beside
she knew nothing of cooking or lightin
fires, 80 he had to get up and do it hiI
self. After she had taken little-f
she was too sad to eat much-she laid he
self down on a miserable bed, quite tire
out. In the morning, however, her hu
band woke her very early, that she mig
clean up the house and get breakfast al
she tried to do it to please him, for
was kind and patient with her. Tn
they continued for few days, till the
stock of provisions was all gone. Tn
said the husband, "Wife, we cannot
on in this way, staying here and earni
nothing; you shall learn to plat willie
and make baskets-it is not difficult
while l go and earn money some 9th
way"
So he went out, cut some willow twi
and brought them home. She soon learn
to plat, but the hard willow twi
wounded her soft hands and made tn,
quite sore.