, 1889-12-26
FL0RINE.
A Fairy Tale.


was great cavern, and every one be-
lieved that he who entered it was sure
to meet with some misfortune; so it was
called tho "Accursed Cavern" All the
shepherds gazed at 1t, from distance,
with terror, and no one dared to ap-
proach 1t.
However, Florine, little shepherdess
felt violent desire to know what there
was in this cave, and day by day her
curiosity increased. When she was l6
years old she said to herself:
"Now have become great girl ]
ought to have no fear"
So one day she left the sheep in the
care of younger brother, telling him
that she was going to pick raspberries;
but she had quite another intention, and
rs soon as she was hidden by the trees,
she directed her steps toward the famous
cavern.
She entered it without tho slightest
hesitation, so great was her curiosity;
but she had hardly advanced a few steps
when she would very gladly have turned
back. '-'
Unfortunately this was no longer pos
sible; the cavern closed behind her as
she went on, but singularly enough,
find her way. Way below her Florine
saw another opening in the mountain,
and she took courage and went on. She
pursued her way tremblingly, for she
thought that this cavern might also
close itself before her, and then she
would be buried alive in the mountain.
But nothing OF tn. soitoccurred. Flor
Inc, after walking long, long time, still
seeing, far before her, the opening which
| she Thought she should never reach,
| finally arrived at tho end, and was sur
| prised, on coming out OF this subterran-
| can avenue, to find herself in u marvel
Gus cemetery, and thousand things
which she had never dreamed of.
| The sky was rose-colored, the grass
and the leaves were blue; the birds had
| four wings, and the smallest butterflies
were as large palm leaves.
The young girl walked on and new
surprises greeted her. ut every step.
Finally, behind some massive trees,
| the like of which she had never seen
before, she heard the sound of human
voices, She turned her steps in that
direction.
At the turning of an avenue paved
| with gold, she saw at a short distance n
palace of wonderful beauty. As she ap-
preached il she heard the sounds of
singing and laughter, the singular eN-
preston of which caused her more
fright than joy. However, she did not
seo single person appear.
| She did not dare TO present herself at
the grand entrance, and, going around
the building she approached a low win
dow, from which came the odor OF cook
ing, the most appetizlng odor you can
imagine.
She knocked timidly at the door. A
great cook appeared, who said to her,
| hastily:
What do you want here2'
~ have lost my way and J beg you to
tell me how | can return to my home"
"Ahl IL is you, my beauty, who have
passed through the mountain! Yod are
welcome, Florine; We were only wait
ing for you"
As lac uttered these words, with a grim
smile, the great cook sharpened his knife
upon q steel sharpener, and cast upon
the young girl wicked look.
"Come In, miss" he said. "Come in /;
this is the way for you to CO.
Florine, after passing through a long
corridor found herself III vast kitchen
where twenty scullions and other serv-
ants were Dusily engaged in preparing u
sumptuous repast.
Thirty large iron pots were employed
TO cook the various meats; but the shep-
herdess was surprised at seeing the larg-
est standing open and empty near the
fire, and, Notwithstanding her terror, she
said In a low voice:
rest p
at is waiting for its piece of meat"
replied the cook, land that has just ar-
| rived NJ this very moment. lt ID you,
Florine, that We are going to put into
| that, and when you are well done the
banquet will begin"
Florine began to weep and entreated
tine cook to spare her life.
| "There is only one means OF escape,
miss" replied the terrible cook. Here
is u gold key seek through the palace
for u door which 1t will open. IL you
find it we will not put you in the pot
and we will take another person for his
majesty's repast."
I'm heavens name, mister cook, don't
put any body into that pot In my place.
Are there not sufficient yiands already
for his majesty"
Chlorine, think of yourself, and don't
attempt TO establish new customs in our
house. have only one thing to say to
YOU: find tho lock which the key fits, and
YOU will be- saved. You can then ask q
iavor, but only one, of our sacred maj
esty."
Florine set to work at once; she tried
the key In more than 800 locks. She had
only the remainder OF the day TO COM
plete her task, and the sun wus already
sinking In tho west and she had not yet
found the lock which the key fitted.
She tremblcd with fright, poor child
The cook and four scullions followed heI
step by step. armed with great knives
and, in turn, they said to the timid
shepherd,
Hurry, Florinc, tho sun is setting
the sun is setting, Florine, hurry"
She had been through all the apart
ments, great and small; she had
mounted to the roof she hnd gone down
into the cellar she had not left one lock
untried; but the key was always toC
large or too small. Finally tho cook sale
To her: ..f
Chlorine, this is the last moment, the
sun Is almost down"
The little shepherdess was standing