Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-05-31

There was once beautiful princess
who was very fond Of eating almonds
but who did not want to marry. There
fore she thought of the following plan
She had the half of a double almond
presented to every prince who sough
her hand in marrlage-these were mum
berless-and she herself ate the othel
half, saying:
If, my dear prince, you can from THU
time on force me to take anything from
your hand without repeating the words
u remember it, shall be ready 70,
any proposals. But il I can induce you
to take anything from my hand with
out remembering the important words
you will have your princely head close
shaved and leave my country at once.
But there was a catch in this; name
ly, according to court etiquette, no one
was allowed to hand the charming
princess anything, under penalty oi
death; be must hand it to her lady ol
honor. who would give it to the prin-
cess. But if the princess wanted to
give or take anything, who could pre-
vent her? Thus 1t was but sorry pleas
ure for her suitors, for when they tried
to beguile her into taking something
from their hands without offering it to
her, the lady Of honor always interfered
and spoiled their best plans. If the
princess wanted to get rid Of lover
for day she would behave most gra-
ciously toward him, till he was perfect
ly fascinated, and then when he was sit
ting by her, almost beside himself with
Joy, she would take up something near
her, as if by chance-a pomegranate or
an egg-and say. softly:
Take this to remember me BY
Now, as soon as the prince took the
thing in his hand. thinking, perhaps
vaguely Of the redeeming words. it fell
apart and out sprang into his face a
frog, hornet or bat, so that he started
back i'll alright, and in his fear forgot
the words. Then he was shorn on the
spot and sent away.
This had gone on for years, and in
all the royal houses the princes wore
wigs (these have become fashionable
since then,) when it happened that a
foreign prince came to the place on
business, and by chance saw the AL
mond Queen. He admired her beauty
but saw through the trick. Now a
friend of his, little old grey man, had
gwen him an apple which he was al
lowed to smell once year; and this, for
the time. made him very wise. On &C.
count of this wisdom, he had become
celebrated among all kings. This was
Just the time to use the apple. He
smelled it, and at once saw that if be
wished to win this game of give and
take, he must meyer under any circum.
stances give anything to the princess
or take anything from her. So he had
his 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 giveA to
him. This the marshal took and put
in the mouth of the prince. The prin-
cess asked what this meant, and why
he always had his hands in his belt.
He answered that etiquette at his court
was even much stricter than at hers; he
was not permitted to give or take any
thing with his hands. only, perhaps
with his feet or 'uoutb. At this the
princess laughed and said:
IN this way, we can never catch each
other
He shrugged his shoulders and an
swered:
Only if you will condescend to take
something from my boots
THAT can never happen! cried the
whole court.
Why did you come here,' exclaimed
the princess, angrily. If you have such
stupid customer
Because you are very beautiful said
the prince. Even though cannot win
you, may I not be allowed to look upon
you?
u can make no objection to that, she
replied,
Thus the prince remained at the
court and the princess liked him better
and better, but as she also had her share
of mischief. she tried in every way to
beguile him into pulling his hands out
of his belt, 30 that be would after all
take something from her. She talked
to him all the time; gave him flowers
bon-bons, yinaigrettes, and finally even
her bracelet; he was on the point OF