Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-05

thinking, perhaps. vaguely of the re-
deeming words, it fell apart and out
sprang into his face frog, hornet or bat,
so that he started back in alright. and in
his fear forgot the words. -hen ne was
shorn on the spot and sent away.
This has gone on for years, and In all
the royal houses the princes wore wigs
these have become fashionable since them,
when it happened that foreign prince
came to the place on business, md by
chance saw the.Almond Queen. He admired
her beauty, but saw through the trick.
Now. a friend of his saw little gray old
man had given him an apple oh be was
allowed to smell once year, and this, for
the time, made him very wise. On ac-
count of this wisdom he had become ceIe-
brated among all kings. This was Just
the time to use the apple. He smelnd it,
and at once saw that if he wished to win
the game of give and take, he must never
under any circumstances give anything to
the princess Or take anything from her So
he had Lis hands tied down tightly in
his belt, went with his marshal to the
court and said he also would like to eat an
almond. The princess liked him very
much, and permitted an almond to be
given to him. This his marshal took and
put in the mouth of the prince The
princess asked what that ment, and why
he always had his hand in bis belt. He
answered that etiquette at his court was
even much stricter than a hers; he was
not permitted to give or take anything
with his hands, only, perhaps, with his
feet or mouth. At this the princess laughed
and said: In this way we can never
cath each other He shrugged his
Shoulders aud answered: Only fyou
will condescend TO take something from
my boots. THAT can never happen!"
cried the whole court. why did you
come here" exclaimed the princess an
grily, IF yon have such stupid customs?"
Because you are very teautlTul," said
the prince. Even though cannot win
you. may not be allowed to look npon
you II can make no objection to that, ="
she replied.
Thus the prince remained at the court,
md he princess liked HIM better and bet
ter, but as she also had her share of mis-
chief, she tried in every way to beguiie
HIM into pulling his hands out of his belt,
so that he would after all take something
from her. She talked to him all the time;
gave him flowers, bonbons, vinaigrettes
and finally even her bracelet; he was on
the point OF grasping it. but then ne felt
the belt, and remembered and beckonnd to
his marshal. who gathered up the things,
saying: 1--WE remember it. " At this the
princess at last grew impatient, and said:
MY handkerchief has fallen on the floor;
you might be so good as to pick it up for
me-" The prince took hold of the dainty
fabric with the tip of his boot and waved
it around unconcernedly. The princess
then stopped over. took the cambria from
his feet, and cried angrily: Il remember
it.
Thus year passed by, and the princess
said to herself: Things cannot go on In
thi, way; an end must be put to this some
how II other" So she said to the prince:
Il have the most beautiful garden in the
world, which | will show you tomorrow.
But the prince smelIed his apple again,
and when they were IN the garden, re-
marked: 1T is wonderfully beautiful here,
but In order that we may walk beside each
other in peace, and net be at all disturbed
by our game, beg, sweet mistress, that
You will adopt the custom of my court for
one hour, ard alo-w your hands to be tied
down; then we shall be sure Of each other,
and nothing disagreeable can happen to
u.s." The princess did not like this plan,
but he begged, and she did not want to re-
fuse him such d trife
They went out alone together. with
their hands tied in their belts The birds
sang, the sun shone brightly, and the red
cherries hung down from the trees until
they almost touched their cheeks. The
princess locked at the cherries, and cried:
What pity you cannot pick some OF
these for mel" The prince answered:
Necessity knows no law" took cherry
in his mouth and offered it to the princes.
Nothing remained for her to do but put
her mouth to his and take the cherry.
And as she had the fruit between ner lips.
and also his kiss upon them, she could not
for moment say: IL remember it. Then
he cried. joyously: Good morning, Phiio-
pena," pulled his hands out of bis belt
and embraced her. If they have not sizlce
died, they are still a|ive.-N. Y. Ledger.