Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-07

came SO beautiful, gentle. yirtuouS and
love with her. On the day that she was
fifteen years old. she happened to be left
alone In the castle. The maiden looked
about In every place. going through all the
rooms and chambers just as she pleased.
until she came at last to an old tower. Up
the narrow, winding staircase she tripped.
until she came to a door. In the lock of
which was rusty key. This she turned.
and the door swung open. and there In the
little room sat an old woman spinning fax.
Good day, my good old lady," said the
princess, what are you doing here?
Il am spinning" said the old woman,
nodding her head.
What thing Is this which twists round
SO merrily?' asked the maiden, as she took
the spindle to try her hand at spinning.
ed her finger. and at the very same mo-
ment fell back in deep sleep upon bed
which stood rear. Everybody In the castle
fell asleep also. The king and queen. who
had just returned, fell asleep in the hail
and all their courtiers with them-the
horses in the stables, the doves upon the
caves, the flies upon the walls. and even
the fire upon the hearth. all ceased to stir
the meat which was cooking ceased to sig
Gle. and the cook. at the instant of pulling
the hair Of the kitchen boy. lost his hold
and began to snore. The wind fell, and not
tie.
Now. around the palace a thick hedge of
briars began 10 grow. Every year 1t grew
higher and higher. till the castle was quite
hidden from view. so that one could not
even see the flag upon the tower Then
there went through the land legend Of
the beautiful maiden Briar Rose for SO
was the sleeping princess named, and from
time to time princes came and tried to
break through the hedge into the castle.
This was impossible, for the thorns held
them, as If by hands, and the youths. un-
able to release themselves, persisted mis-
erably.
After the lapse of many years, there came
another kings son into the country. He
heard an old man tell the legend of the
hedge OF briars, behind which stood a cas-
tie where slept fair and lovely princess
called Briar Rose, who had slumbered
nearly a hundred years, and with her the
king and queen and all their court The old
man also told what he had heard from his
grandfather that many prince had come
from afar and tried to get through the
hedge. but had died a miserable death. This
youth was not to be daunted and however
much the old man tried to dissuade him.
he only answered: 81 fear not I will see
this hedge of briars!'
Just at that time came the last day of
the hundred years, when Briar Rose was to
wake again: As the young prince drew
near the hedge. the thorns turned to large
fine flowers, which of their own accord
made way for him to pass through, and
again closed VI behind him. In the court
yard he saw the horses and dogs lying fast
asleep, and on the caves were the doves
with their heads beneath their wings
In the house he saw the flies asleep upon
the wall, the cook still standing with his
hand on the hair of the kitchen boy and
the maid at the board with the fowl in her
hand. He went on. and found the courtiers
lying asleep in the hall, and above. by the
throne, were the king and the queen He
went on further, and all was so quiet that
he could hear himself breathe till at last
he came to the tower and opened the door
OF the little room where SLEPT Briar Rose
There she lay. looking beautiful that he
could not turn away his eyes. and he bent
over her and kissed her AS he did so she
opened her eyes. awoke, and greeted HIM
with smiles. Then they went down to-
gether. and instantly the king and queen
and the whole court awoke and stared at
each other.
Then the horses in the stable got I'D and
shook themselves, the dogs wagged their
tails the doves upon the caves drew their
heads from under their wings looked
around and flew away the flies upon the
walls began to crawl, the fire began to
burn brightly and to cook the meat the
meat began again to siZzle, the cook gave
his lad box upon the ear which made him
call out. and the maid began to pluck the
fowl The whole palace was once more in
motion. as if nothing had occurred; for the
hundred years sleep had made no change
in any one.
BY and by the wedding of the prince and
Brfar Rose was celebrated with great
splendor, and TO the end of their lives they
lived contented and happy.