Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-04-29
AN UNHAPPY PRINCE.

With bare feet and with hair floating in
tho wind, beggar lad passed along the road
before the kings palace. Beggar though he
was he was very handsome, with golden
curls, big black eyes, and mouth as fresh a.
rose after rain. The sun seemed to take
q particular pleasure in looking at him, and
there was really more light and brightness
round about his rags than lay upon the sat
and noble ladies' lounging in the court of
honor.
"Oh, how lovely she is!' exclaimed the
beggar, suddenly stopping.
He had seen the Princess Rosalind, who
was sitting at her window, and truly it was
impossible to find anything more lovely than
she was. Motionless, with his arms raised
toward the window, as though toward an
opening in the sky through which he caught
a glimpse of Paradise, the beggar would have
remained thus until evening if the guard had
not chased him away with the butt of a hal
berd and with hard words.
He went away holding down his head. It
seemed to him that now everything was
gloomy before him and around him; the
horizon dark, and the trees but shadows.
Unable to see Rosalind, he believed the sun
was dead. Sitting down under an oak at the
edge of the wood, he began to cry.
"Well, well, young fellow, why are you
sorrowing in this fashion," asked an old
woman wood picker, who just then came out
of the wood, her back bent beneath fagot
of dried sticks.
"What good would it do to tell you?" said
he. "You can do nothing for me, my poor
woman"
"Perhaps you are mistaken about that"
said the crone.
While speaking she Strengthened herself
up and threw away her burden. She was no
longer wood picker, but a fairy, beautiful
as the day, dressed in a robe of silver lace,
and with her hair garlanded with precious
stones As to the dead branches immedi-
ately she threw them away they took fight,
covered themselves with green leaves and
returned to the trees from which they had
fallen, while the birds sang for Joy to wei.
come them back.
"Oh. my Lady Fairyl" cried the beggar
lad, falling on his knees, take pity on my
misfortune. Since saw the princess at the
window my heart no longer belongs to me,
and feel that shall never, never love any
one but her."
WELL" said the fairy, there is no great
misfortune in that
"Ah," cried he, "could there be greater for
me? Do you understand that I shall die
if do not marry the princess?"
"Well, what is to hinder you from marry.
ing her." said the fairy. "She is not engaged.
believe
"Oh, madam, look at my rags, see my
bare feet. am but poor fellow who begs
upon the road.'
''That does not matter" said the fairy;
nothing can hinder one from being loved
who loves sincerely; such is the sweet and
eternal law of life. The king and queen will
repulse you with disdain and the courtiers
will ridicule you, but if your love for the
princess is true, she will be touched by it
and will give you her pity
The young fellow shook his head; he could
not believe that such miracle was possible
Take care" said the fairy, cor your want
Of faith will be punished in way that will be
anything but pleasant. However, as you are
suffering, 1 am willing to come to your aid.
Make wish and will grant il"
IT WISH" replied the youth, promptly, ITO
be the most powerful prince on earth, SO
that / may marry the princess, whom /
adore"
'Dear me, dear me-" said the fairy; "why
don't you 20 instead and sing love-song
yourself with the cares which your wish
will bring you? But since have promised it
shall be as you desire. Let me, however,
first warn you of one thing: When you have
ceased to be what you are now, n enchanter,
no fairy, not even myself, will be able to
restore you to your first condition:
'Do you think" answered the youth, that
the royal husband of Princess Rosalind
49, - b H.
the highway?"
Then with golden wand she touched him
upon the shoulder, and in the twinkling of
an eye the beggar became a magnificent
lord, glittering in silks and JEWELS riding
train of pluned courtiers and throng of
warriors in golden armor.
A prince of such magnifcence could only
be received at the kings court in one way.
He was welcomed with fuss and hustle, and
for whole week there were Hastings, balls
and fetes of every conceivable kind in his
honor.
But one thing worried him somewhat.
She whom he loved seemed to pay but lit
tie heed to all his attentions; she remained
silent and went about with melancholy
air.
AT 1cIl8Lu lie dSkcQ lie royal parents lOr
their daughters hand in marriage, and, as
may be supposed, they took care not to re-
fuse so splendid an offer. So the beggar of a
little while ago was going to possess the
loveliest princess in the world, and so ex.
traordinary was his happiness on receiving
the parents consent that he felt as though
he could baye DANCED the minuet by himself
Before all The court. v. ->-~ .
Alas, his JOY was but short-lived No soon.
er was Rosalind told of her parents wishes
than 10 fell in swoon in the arms Of her
,la&5s Of h9hof, md when ehe came to her.
'1eH It was to say with tSxis and wr1nghs Of
hands that she did not wish to marry; and
that she would kill herself before she be.
came the wife of the prince.
More in despair than can well be described,
the unhappy prince ran into the room to
which the princess had been carried, and
fell on his knees before her.
"Cruel one," he cried. take back your
words!"
She slowly opened her eyes and replied.
L l.