Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-08-21
THE PRINCESS BELINDA.

hEfG = nlNSES0 DGLitN Ia
WIN She Had to Go to Kryland Island.
and How She Climbed the Mountain of
Cheerfulness.
Once upon time, long, long ago, be-
fore all the fairy godmothers died and
left poor mothers to take care of their
own children, there lived in beautiful
palace little Princess named Belinda.
Her beauty would have been perfect
but for disagreeable look about her
mouth, caused by a dreadful habit Of
crying over every little trouble. She
not only made herself unhappy but all
her friends and relations as we'll
The first thing heard in the morning
was: Boo, hoo, hoo! / don't want to
be bathed in cold water!' then. Boo
hoo hoo! you are pulling my hair" In
fact, all day could be heard the weep
ing and wailing of this miserable little
Princess. If nurse was not near just
when Belinda called her. or if mamma
could not give her every thing she
wished, she would cry and cry until
mamma was nearly heart-broken to
think what an unhappy woman her
little daughter must become if not
cured of this fault.
Belinda was blessed with fairy god
mother and one day. just when mamma
was nearly distracted by the constant
food of tears, the fairy godmother APP
peared, for fairy godmothers always
used to come when very much needed.
why this sadness?" she asked.
Mamma told her how badly she felt
that Belinda should fret and cry over
trifes and not be happy and contented
The fairy thought for a moment, then
said: "Kryland might cure her, but It
is severe remedy, and you will have
TO let me take her away for some time"
Amy thing" answered mamma,
would be better than TO have her ruin
her disposition by crying all the time"
Such crying and screaming as Belinda
INDUCED in when told that she was to
leave home, had never been heard in
the palace before. The fairy paid no
attention to it, but took pair Of sillSen
wings from her pocket, fastened them
to her shoulders, and lifting Belinda in
her arms few out of the window. The
little Princess was so surprised at this
that she actually forgot to cry.
Away they flew over land and sea I'M
til they came to a small island, over
which a heavy mist hung, caused by
the warm streams of tears constantly
flowing from the eyes of its inhabitants
This, said the fairy, lis Kryland
Here all the people who love to cry,
may stay and cry to their hearts con-
tent without troubling any one else, or
they may climb the Mountain of Cheer
fulness just as they choose,
In the center of Kryland stood a
high mountain up which Belinda could
see many people climbing, each by
different path; but its top was hidden
from view by heavy clouds of mist
Now" said the fairy, If you ever
want to go home again you must climb
to the top of this mountain; but warn
you that every time you cry you will
slip back days journey"
She then pointed out the path Belin-
da was to take, and left her. For hours
the Princess cried and cried, but at last,
remembering what the fairy had told
her, she started on her journey.
The first day of climbing was the most
difficult task Belinda had ever under
taken. The path was wet and slippery
When she put her hands on the rocks to
help herself she found them damp and
moldy.
At night ugly brownies brought her a
supper of black bread and muddy water
at the sight of which her ready tears
fell, and down she slipped to the foot of
the mountain. The next morning she
started up again, and after some days of
climbing, with occasional back-slidings,
grew so much interested in her journey
that she felt no desire to cry. She kept
steadily on and there was no more slip
ping back. The wet slippery mud gave
place to frmer ground and flowers be-
gan to spring up beside the path-prim-
roses and violets
To her surprise, as she climbed, the
path became easier. Through the break
ing mist rainbow appeared, over which
bright fairies came, instead of ugly
brownies. to attend to her needs At
last, one day she reached the top where
all was sunshine and gladness, a happy,
cheerful child
Then the godmother again appeared,
and they few over land and sea, back to
delighted mother: and for the rest of
her life Belinda was a JOY and blessing
TO all about her.-Annie e. Atkinson,
in Our Little Men and Women.