The Yale expositor., 1896-05-08

daughter to Rome.
So the princess babe farewell to her
home and set out upon her voyage. She
was accompanied by many noble danes
and maids, and courtiers of high degree.
The vessels carrying the company were
gay with floating silken remnants and
flags, and the sails were of bright-hued
colors. A rich dowry, suited to the
high birth of the princess, was sent also
on the vessel and everything seemed
bright and joyous.
But after sailing few days they sud-
denly encountered a heavy storm
Great black clouds mounted up in the
skies, piling upon each other and
threatening to empty their deluge up
on the now frightened voyagers. The
sea became calm, but only to be fol-
lowed by such wild ragings as seldom
disturb the deep. The waves rose
mountains high, just as the storm burst
in it's fury, and when daylight broke
there was no sign of vessel or crew
upon the wide ocean. But suddenly a
voice rung out clear in the morning sun
light. There, clinging to a spar was
the princess of all the host she alone
was living. And as she sung from out
the deep, the vessel suddenly rose, and
the princess, mounting upon the PROV,
seemed safe for the time.
Now, you must know that, when the
princess left her home, an old nurse
gave her stone, which seemed dull
on1 hpt which che haHn tho
maiden guard as she would her life.
The stone was now hanging about the
maiden's neck, and it had the power in
it of fulfilling anything she might wish.
AS she looked about she beheld a whale
following the risen vessel, and in her
terror she grasped the stone. Imme-
diately fire sprung up about her, and
the whale was frightened away.
But when night came. the maiden
was weary and slept. And the stone
slipped from her grasp and the chain
on her neck lcosened and the talismon
dropped into the sea. Then the fire
was suddenly extinguished and the
whale came and devoured the sleeping
princess. Then she awoke, and with a
sharp knife which she had fastened in
her belt, she wounded the whale till it
made for the shore, feeling that it was
sick unto death.
There walked on the sand nobleman
of Ansemus' kingdom, and when he
saw the whale, after it had grown light
he summoned his men to come and kill
it. And as they struck at the huge
sides, the princess cried out:
Have mercy, and save me, for l am
princess!'
In alarm the men at first ran away
but summoned by their master they
again set to work, and soon the princess
was released from her dark prison
The nobleman took pity on her when nc
heard her sad tale, and took her home
with him. Then word was sent to An
selmus, and he came with great train
of followers to welcome the maiden.
"My child" he said, you have suf-
fered much. But one more trial have
you before / can call you daughter. u
Then turning to an attendant he said
Bring the caskets!
Immediately a slave knelt before the
princess holding on velvet cushion
three caskets. The first was of gold
beautifully wrought and set With pre-
cious gems but inside it contained dead
mems bones. The second was of silver
embossed and highly ornamented, but
inside it was nothing but dust and ashes
The third was made of dull lead, plain
and ugly to look upon, but inside was q
great treasure, rubies and diamonds
and pearls beyond price.
my child, you must choose one OF
these caskets. If you choose that which
shall be of profit to yourself and to
others, you shall marry the prince and
in time become queen. But If you
choose unwisely, then in peace shall
you return to your fathers kingdom. "
The princess looked upon the three
caskets, and taking up the gold one read
its inscription.
Whose chooseth me shall receive
that which he deserves"
"Ah, beautiful casket, you are fair to
look upon, but know not what is mid
den beneath your fair outside" said the
maiden 81 will pass you by"
Then she read on the silver casket:
Whose chooseth me shall have that
which he desires!'
NAY, nay, oh silver casketw she
cried, what desire may be wrong and
wicked. I'll none of thee!'
Then the plain leaden casket was
raised
Whose chooseth me shall receive
that which is ordained for him."
"Ahw cried the princess, ''in this
there is promise, for whatsoever is or
dained must be for the best. Thou shalt
be my choicew
"Well chosen, thou good and virtuous
maiden" cried the king, as he bent and
kissed her on the brow.
And the wedding of the prince and
princess was celebrated with great re-
joicings. -Philadelph Times.