Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
THE MAGIC Ruby.
TRANSLATED FOR THE DISPATCH.


himself ani his servants in his desire to
ave'his money. His one pleasure was to
count his gold. Of which he had great
quantity. The Kings only son in no re-
spect resembled his father. He was gay,
lively youth. who whlstied and sang from
morning till night True, he was very idle
and spent very little time over his books;
but then he was always so bright and happy
that every one who knew him loved him.
He had beautiful voice, and enjoyed moth
ing better than singing. To the King who
loved only the music of his ,jingling gold,
the Princes constant singing was great
trial, and he often chided his son for his
thoughtless ways.
One day the King was in a trul y frightfu
passion. While at the dinner table, he had
put piece of bread in his pocket, thinking
that would do for his supper, but when
evening came, although very hungry, he
decided to keep the bread for his breakfast.
During the night hungry mouse, running
through the Kings room, smelt the bread,
and as it could not find the way into the
pocket. it ate an hole in the coat. and car,
ried away the bread. When the King found
his best clothes thus ruined he was in
towering rage, and at that moment the
Prince, singing gay song, passed the
door,
Glow can YOU sing. you idle boy" cried
the King, when such misfortune has
fallen upon your father. 1 wish you were
frog, and then you could croak all day long
without troubling me"
No sooner were these words spoken, than
the handsome Prince became an ugly, green
frog, and with ''croak, croak, hoped
down the stairs.
"Help, help" shouted the King, terrified
at the unexpected result OF his wish.
"Catch him, stop him."
The servants ran hither and thither, cry
ing, "Where is the thief" Where is the
murderer"
1.-The Frog, you stupid" cried the King;
'stop him."
But by this time the Frog had gone
through the palace gate. and had reached
the duck pond. From that day the King
was sad and sorrowful. He took no more
pleasure in his gold, but constantly grleved
after his son, who he hoped would soon re-
turn to him. Then came to his mind this
dreadful thought: "What if stork should
devour me boy" And the idea was so dis
tressing to him that he cried out in his
agony.
Meanwhile the Frog Prince hoped from
one pond to another croaking to his hearts
content, and even though he had lost his
beautiful form, he could not be entirely sad.
One morning, as the Prince sat on the shore
OF pond and WAS looking about for some
thing on which to make his breakfast,
great stork stood before him and was about
to take him up with his long bill, when the
Prince croaked: "Stop. Mr.. Snapperbill, l
ool g. fhn mrs lry
son."
shall live; but promise me that if ever you
return to your fathers castle and become
king of the country you will punish by
death anyone who I'M ures stork."
The Prince gave the desired promise and
the stork flew away. For long time the
kings son could hnd no pond which he
thought tine enough for him to live in.
Finally he came to a small lake in which
lay green island.
"Here shall live," thought the Prince.
and springing into the water he swan
toward the island. As he drew near, he saw
sitting on the shore a large, green frog, who
said: "Here comes stranger"
''Yes," replied the Prince, II suppose you
have never seen me before; but am not
frog as you think. but 1 am kings son and
my father wished it,
81 am no frog either, returned the other,
"but the daughter of a noble duke. After
my fathers death my cousin changed me
into this form. I have been here a year and
q day. Yesterday the water nymph who
lives in the lake promised to come to the
shore tonight when the moon rose and tell
me how may be free.
The Prince was delighted to find such
pleasant companion on the island. All day
they talked over their experiences their
plans TOR the future. and were pleased to
find that each was fond Of music. They
tried to display their powers, and with their
croaking voices produced some very fine
melodies. That night when the moon rose
round and full, the water nymph came to
the shore and cried: princess FrogP'
"Yes, am here" was the reply. 81
have had company all day, the son of
King. who has been changed into frog
like myself. Can you tell him, also, how he
may gain again his own form?"
"Certainly can" laughed the nymph,
''he Is the very one who can rescue both of
you"
"Tell me quickly" cried the Prince,
'and shall do exactly as you direct"
"Well, then" said the nymph, mot far
from the shore, in the forest, is a great rock,
in which is dark cave, where lives an i'm
mense dragon. AS soon as the dragon sees
you he will open his great mouth and
breathe forth fire and smoke. But do not
fear, hop boldly into the monsters mouth
and under his tongue you will find blood
red ruby. Take this in your mouth and
hurry away. When the first ray of SUM-
light shines in tine gem both you and the
Princess will be free from the enchant-
ment"
The Prince listened carefully to what the
nymph had said, and then hoped away to
the forest. He soon found the rock, and
heard loud, roaring sound, which he dis
covered to be caused by the breathing of the
dragon. The Prince went to the cave and
looked in. There lay the hideous creature,
sleeping. The dragon slowly opened his
eyes, and when it saw the frog. it turned |
over, opened its huge mouth and snorted |
forth fire and smoke. The Prince remem-
bered the nYmph's words, and at once sprang |
into the great cavity. He had no trouble in |
finding the ruby He had seized it, and bad |
sprung out Of the dragons mouth before the |
monster could close its great jaws upon him. |
1t was with difficulty that the Prince could |
carry the ruby between his thick, green |
lips, and as he must stop every lew moments |
to rest, it was nearly daYbreak when he |
reached the shore. Long before he arrived |
there he heard the Princess croaking to the |
nymph, telling her that she feared the drag
on had destroyed the Prince, and now that
all hope of rescue was lost. But the nymph |
assured the Princess that the Prince would |
be very careful, and that he would not allow
himself to be devoured by the dragon.
When the Prince reached the shore, he |
was received with great joy both by the
Princess and the nymph, who listened |
eagerly while be told mis- story. Just as the |