Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-20

was Held in the village near the fsherman's
home. Janet, dressed in her best clothes,
was Fastening to join her companions; al
ready she could hear the sounds of music
and almost see the dancing On the village
green. As she ran along the sandy shore
she met an old woman carrying basket of
ribbons and laces.
"Where are you going, little girl?" she
asked in a friendly way.
''To the village" replied Janet "do you
not hear the music?'
but, my dear child" said the old
woman, 81 have just come from the village,
and there all the maidens are adorned with
gay ribbons, and you have none;" and bend.
ing over her basket, she selected bright
scarlet ribbon.
''Let me tie this about your waist" she
said, land then you will be the envy of all"
Janet could not refuse so generous an
offer and allowed the old woman to tie the
ribbon on her. But when she turned to
thank her friend she saw not the old woman
with the basket, but the angry water king
frowniug upon her. Almost overcome with
fright, she tried to run away; but the king
of the nymphs seized her by the arms, cry
ing: Now l have caught you; and l shall
teach your father to break my windows and
then make sport of me. Come, you shall
never more sail in your little boat to injure
nv crystal palace with your iron rudder."
The little girl called aloud for help; but
no one heard her, and she was dragged
away bv the angry king. She disappeared
under the water, and for many weary days
the father and mother waited and watched
in vain for the return OF their beloved
daughter.
At the door of the dark dungeon into
! 4. l. L Il
captor sat the sea kings only daughter,
beautiful little nymph who, unlike her
father, was kind and gentle, aand grieved
that the poor little girl had been taken rom
her home and placed in the dark, dark room.
She wanted to speak or sing to the little
prisoner; but she mad been forbidden to do
SO, and dared not disobey. The hours
seemed very long to Janet. A very meager
portion of the plaiuest iood was given her
each day, and the dark room was so small
that she could walk only few steps in any
direction. She lost all count of time, and
thought it might be years since she had seen
her father and mother. One day the king
opened the door OF her prison and in a stern
voice cried: You may come out now and
play in the garden; but in an hour you
must return"
How gladly Janet came out into the light
once more. Before her stood the crystal
palace OF the sea king. with its glitterinr
walls and transparent columns; and down
the steps came the kings daughter. who
greeted Janet kindly and walked with her
in the beautiful gardens and played with
her in the bright sunshine. The hour
passed very quickly, and Janet was again
led away to the cold, dark room, where she
spent many weary days. Another time the
king allowed her tn play an hour with his
daughter. Then she whispered to the little
nymph or the sea king was near): Little
fairy, you are very kind to me, and 1 love
YOU dearly. Can you not come sometimes
to the door of my prison and sing or speak
to me, for 1 am very lonely?"
81 would gladly do so, !" replied the fairy,
''but father watches me constantly all dar,
and would punish ME severely il be found
me disobeying his orders. But at night,
when all are sleeping, can open your door
and we can mount to the surface of the
water, and then ride in nv water-lily boat"
When the play was over Janet returned
to her dismal room, but she was no longer
unhappy and discontented, for che knew
that the nymph would not forget her, and
that night she would again ride on the sea-
When night came and everyone in the crys-
tai palace was sleeping the sea fairy crept
10 Janet's door and softly whispered, "Are
you sleeping?" But Janet was not Sleep
ing and hastily followed her guide to the
water-lily boat, which, as soon as they were
seated In It, rose TO the surface OF the water
and glided through the waves.
How happy Janet was now. The sea
nymph had brought her golden harp from
which hoated sweet melodies. Again she