The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-25
THE MAGIC CAP.
The Story of Little Prince Uf
aud the Happy Beggar.

There was once little Prlnce, who was
so humored by his parents, his tutors and
everybody that he became a perfect little
tyran.. He well deserved the name by
which he was called-Ufano, that is to say.
the Proud. His playmates. among the boys
of the nobility, could not endure his bad
temper and imperious ways.
There might have been among the peasant
boys some that would have put up with his
domineering manner. but it was out of the
question for the Prince to associate with
any one lower than = baron's son. Thus he
was obliged to entertain himself, and as he
soon tired of his beautiful books and pict-
ures he found himself very dull company.
Some boys that know would have thought
the world and all of the pretty white pony
that the Prince rode whenever he wished,
hut Jaca could have told sad tale of his
little masters Immature, judging from the
kicks and blows he receiv ed when the
Prince was in a bad humor.
One day Ufano was riding through the
forest, when he saw, leaning against tree,
a little figure wearing upon its head a curl
Gus little red cap. There was no one else in
sight. so the Prince concluded that the
cheerful voice and merry laugh that he
with the red cap, and coming nearer he
called out:
what are you laughing at?"
"At these funny Children" was the an
swer. "They are so happy here in the wood
that they make me feel merry too"
Z" don't see any children" said the Prince
UfaHo.
The diminutive figure pushed back the
long curly locks that hid his face and the
Prince saw he was a boy OF abont his own
age, with beautiful face and most mis-
shapen little body.
"These are my children" said he. point
ing to several bits of sticks, each one tied
round the middle with different col0red
rag. This one dressed in red is the
Duchess and she has just ordered the ban
quet 10 begin; see, here it is. Come, join
us, will you?'
And drawing from his pocket piece of
brown bread, the little cripple divided it
among the guests. The Prince partook of
the feast and began to envy, the peggar his
free and happy life. He asked whether he
was always in so good Il humor.
always, when l wear my happy cap"
was the answer. 1T takes away all my
pain and makes me forget that cannot run
and jump and play. My godmother, who is
what to say whenever put it on"
The Prince thought his own velvet hat
with plumes much handsomer than the
shabby little red cap, but he went home in
a very thoughtful mood. The change in
him was apparent to all about the palace,
and hoping to find something new to please
him, asked If there was anything he specially
desired. Then he told her of the banquet in
the forest and how he longed for the Magic
Cap. The little beggar was sent for, and
very sadly he consented to lend his cap TO
the Prince for one month, though he thought
in that time he would surely die without it,
Ufann wore 1t continually for several
days without any visible effect, and finally,
in fit of anger, threw it into the river
There fisherman found it. and recognizing
il as the property of the little cripple, he
returned it TO him. The poor little fellow
had missed his cap very much and was now
heartily glad to have it back again, but re-
Numbering his promise to let the Prince
have il for month. he undertook to return
it to him. limping all the way to the palace.
How any one could fail to be happy while
wearing THAT magic cap he could not under
stand, and when the Queen kindly ques-
toned him about the benefit to be derived
from it, he exclaimed:
But perhaps the Prince Ufano forgot to
say the magic words when he put it on?'
And what are the words?" asked the
Queen.
"These," said the boy: when 1 cannot
have what l like must try to like what
have"
Then the Prince Ufano knew the secre. of
the little cripple's cheerful endurance now
it is thousand times wiser to submit pa
tiently and accept things as they come; and
how, instead of trying to bend everything to
ones will, it is both easier and more advisa-
BILE to bend ones own will to the events of
lie.-Virginia McSherry, in Philadelphia
Times,