The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-23
THE STORY OF
PRINCESS MARVEL
Retold From the Romantic Folklore
Of Russia.
BY EDWARD COURTNEY.

Every country has its Wonder Book,
aud its Twice Told Tales, but who ever
tires of hearing them, though they are
read to Us again and again. This story
of the Princess Marvel is of Russian
origin, and may not be old to some Of
you, but il has delighted the heart of
many Russian boy and girl.
To begin then, there was an island
in a distant sea, and on i. dgclt be-
ing wonderful to behold. Her b-Aasy
combined the glory of the day and of
night; OF the flowers and Of the stars.
The clouds loved TO look upon her, hut
the jealous sun drove them away. The
wind, and the stars and the moon, all
loved to talk to her, as did everything
in nature.
But beautiful as was this maiden,
kind asshe was TO all who were worthy,
she had power that could work in to
any one that reused her to exert it.
Such eyes As she had had never before
been seen, for with a glance, if she so
desired, she could change whOmsoever
she looked upon into a block of ice.
So here she dwelt with twelve maid
ems, each one Iovelier than the last,
and the island they lived upon was
rich and verdant, and blossomed and
bloomed luxuriantly.
All went well for long time, and
the maidens were very happy in their
secluded home in the sea. But, as |
have said, the clouds, and the winds,
the stars, the SIN, and the moon, low
ed to look upon Princess Marvel, 50
after looking they all went their way,
and spoke to all the world Of her
charms. And so it came to pass that
great kings and princes came from far
OF lands and sought this isle of the
sea
Even this was well for a time, for
though many offered the princess
their thrones and vast estates, she gent
ly refused the honors they sought to
bsstow upon her. Aud 10 all who took
her refusal in goo0 part, and departed
TO their homes, it was well; bat woe to
those who returned with armies hoping
to force the maiden to yield They
saw their armies vanquished, and then
were themselves frozen into statues of
ice, nor could the belaied sun Of re
pentanoe thaw them again to their for
m r state of splendor and pride.
But many Of the rejected suitors
chose to remain on the island with all
their attendAnts, and 50 it became
won ierful kingdom. fdll of the valoT
and glory of kings, and knights, and
champions; and each defeated one was
ready to help defeat his possible sue
cessor, had it been necessary.
Now there lived at this time, in his
kingdom Of the underworld, big giant
named Koshchel, who one day came
up to the top of a high mountain to
look upon the whole earth; and as he
looked he saw the Princess Marvel. and
determined that no one but she should
5e his queen.
With three stamps Of his mighty foot
and a muttered ineantation, Koshchel
found himself transported to the island
Of the princess, aud he straightway
demanded that she should accept him
as her future lord and master.
There is no knowing what the fair
lady might have done, 50 terrible was
KoshcheI to look upon, had ii not been
that in dream she had seen cham
pion wearing golden arulor and mount
ed on fiery steed and armed Nth an
invisible club; and the princess felt
that she could endure anything to
know that this brave prince would
rescue her.
She called forth her army then, but
with his poisonous breath, which swept
ike a wind among them, the giant
lad all the troops low, in deep stupor.
Toe fair Marvel escaped, however, for,
turning an angry glance at the giant
as she fed to the palace, she changed
him into block Of ice.
Waen she reached the palace, how
ever, the princess found everyone
as,eep, nor could she waken them. and
ONLY too SON did she discover the
meaning Of il. The giant was inn
mortal, and her glance, which had
slain 80 many enemies, could do no
more to him than pat him 10 sleep for
a time in a frozen state of amazemenL
So. when the effect OF her glance
wore OF, he put an enchanted sleep on
all the inhabitants Of the island save
the princess and himself But not
daring TO again encounter her gaze, he
raised a magic wall Of iron around the
castle, aud placed twelve headed
dragon al the gate % guard IL
Every day, then, be came and plead
ed with her TO relent; but the princess
Thought forever Of the champion Of her
dreams. And now she talked to the
oaiy friends that could hear her. To
the cloud hovering over her garden
he said one day;