The aegis & intelligencer., 1894-04-20
cellanen11s.
THE DUMB PRINCESS.

Once upon time there lived King
who had an immense garden. Its
paths were strewn with gayly-colored
sand, in the inches of its yew-tree
hedge stood white marble statues, and
strange flowers of burning colors sur
rounded the grass plats. But in the
middle of the garden was a group of
fish tailed sea-gods, who, sitting upon
spouting dolphins, were blowing their
shell trumphets.
All the world admired this garden.
There was only one person whom it
did not please-this was the King S
young and most beautiful daughter
Those shameless heather gods fright
ened her and she always avoided the
garden.
Therefore, the King, who loved his
daughter above all the world, sent for
a young gardener, who had travelled
through many lands and had seen
many splendid things, and command
ed him to make new garden in place
of the old one. He wished to make q
present of it to the Princess on her
birthday.
The gardener did his best. He dug
and chopped and he planted. Sun,
shine and rain did their part also, and
when the birthday came the gardener
stood at the entrance gate and held ii
salver on which he offered to the Prin-
cess the golden key of the garden
Followed by courtiers and ladies-in,
tour of the garden.
The heart of the Kings daughter
leaped within her for joy. She for,
sock the gravel walk and sprang light
ly over the lawn, so that her court
ladies had difficulty in keeping uI
with her. But with measured tread
and a frequent shake of the head the
court duenna followed the frolicSome
young people. A nodding rose twig
had stuck in her powdered hair as she
passed. She thought the new garden
hideous.
Now, the Princess was near the spot
where the marble basin had formerly
had a place. To-day there lay tiny
smiling silver lake.
"Oh, how charming :" exclaimed the
Princess, and the ladies repeated the
words after her.
Then a dreadful thing happened
A fat, green frog, which was sitting il
the reeds looking out for water ladies
being disturbed by the rustic of silker
garments. made great leap ant
plunged into the water so violently
that the drops spurted up.
Every one screamed, and the Prin
cess sank down, all pale, upon tn,
ground. Now the court duenna has
tened her steps and was shocked tC
see what had happened. Luckil,
musk and smelling salts were easily
| found.
The fainting girl soon came to her
self, but fright had taken away he
power of speech. With disturbee
faces and shaking with anxiety TIN
ladies in waiting carried her back tC
the palace.
In honor of the Princess the towns
people had decked their houses with
green and gay flags, but when thu
midday hour chimed they removed al
signs of the decoration, for Dam,
Rumor announced that the King
daughter had suddenly become dumb
And unhappily this was no empt.
hearsay. The Princess had long re
covered from her fright. She coult
eat and drink, but no words passet
her lips. She had lost the power o
speech.
Physicians came to her side. The,
caused all the circumstances to be tol(
them, put their heads together ant
wrote long prescriptions. The patien
swallowed obediently drops, pills AIT
powders, but the power of speech di'
not return.
The whole court was draped il
mourning. But the old King, VIII,
was usually so mild and kind, foamet
with rage. He ordered all the frog
in his kingdom to be killed, and set
price of a farthing on the head O
every frog. But he threw the gard
ener into prison. OF what use was j
all? The Princess remained dumb.
Days, weeks and months passed by
Physicians collected there from a.
corners of the globe. What one order
ed the other always condemned, bu
no one of them could give back to tn
Kings daughter the power of speech
Wise women and clever shepherd
were also sent for. Even Master Ham
merlein, the eXecutioner, was com
manded to come. They piled thei
strong and secret remedies, but non
of them could help her.
In the meantime the poor gardene
was in a sorry plight. He had hope,
for a rich reward, and now he was ly
ing in chains and could behold neithe
sun nor moon. But his old mothe
was still alive in the homestead, an
she was clever woman of much e1
perience. When she heard what ha
happened to her son, she tied up he
bundle and wandered off to the King