Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06

the fierce swarm of rats. In a moment not
tail nor whisker was to be seen. Each
one; one had had, made for his hole as fast as his
could safely take her pot of pinks She
found them nearly dying for want of water.
and hastily poured all that was left in the
enjoying their delicious scent, soft voice,
that seemed to rustic among the leaves,
said:
Lovely Felicia. the day has come at last
when l have the happiness Of telling you
how even the flowers love you and rejoice
in your beauty"
The Princess, quite overcome by the
strangeness Of hearing a cabbage. a hen.
and pink speak. and by the terrible sight
of an army of rats suddenly became very
pale, and tainted away.
At this moment in came Bruno: working
hard in the heat had not improved his tenn
per. and when he saw that Felicia had sue
ceeded In finding her pinks he was so angry
and shut the door upon her. The fresh air
soon made her open her pretty eyes, and
there before her stood the Queen OF the
Woods looking as charming as ever.
You have bad brother" she said; 81
saw how cruelty he turned you out Shall
/ punish him for it,"
"Ah. no, madam" she said; IT am not
angry with him"
but supposing he was not your brother.
after all, what would you say them" asked
the Queen.
ooh. but think he must be-" said
What" said the Queen, have you not
heard that you are a Princess?"
II was told so little while ago, madam
but how could believe it without a single
proof?''
"Ah, dear child" said the Queen "the
way you speak assures me that in spite
of your humble upbringing, you are indeed
real Princess, and ! can save you from
no N nfad in ur0u aavrft
She was interrupted at this moment by
the arrival of a very handsome young man.
He wore a coat OF green velvet fastened with
emerald clasps, and had crown of pinks
on his head. He knelt upon one knee and
kissed the Queens hand.
"Ah." she cried. my Pink, my dear son,
how happy | am to see you restored to your
natural shape by Felicia's aid" and she
Felicia, she said Charming Princess, /
know all the hen told you. but you cannot
have heard that the zephyrs. to whom
entrusted the task of carrying my son to
the tower where the Queen, your mother,
SO anxiously waited for him, left him in
stead in garden of flowers, while they
few off to tell your mother, and then a bad
fairy, with whom / had quarreled, changed
him into pink. and / could do nothing to
prevent 1t.
II was very angry, and i tried to undo
the mischief she had done, but there was
no help for it.. l could only bring Prince
Pink to the place where you were being
brought up. hoping that when you grew up
he might love you. and by your care be re-
stored to his natural form. You see every
thing has. gone right. and when you gave
me the silver ring, it was sign that the
power of the charm was nearly over, and
the bad fairy thought she would brighten
you with her army of rats. That she did
not succeed in doing; SO now. my dear
Felicia, If you will be married to my son
with this silver ring, you will be happy
forever. Are you not willing to marry such
handsome and gentle Princes"
Madam" replied Felicia, blushing you
overwhelm me with your kindness. l know
that you are my mothers sister, and that
by your art you turned the soldiers who
nurse into a hen. and l feel for the first
time in my life how good II Is to be loved.
Can you indeed give me the Princes hearth"
1T is yours already. lovely Princess" he
cried, taking her hand in his. But for the
horrible enchantment which kept me silent
would have told you long ago how dearly
love you"
This made the Princess very happy. and
dressed like poor shepherdess. touched
her with her wand. saying:
Il wish you to be dressed as BELTS your
rank and beauty" And Immediately the
Princess's cotton dress became magnih-
cent robe Of silver brocade embroidered
with pearls. and her soft dark hair was
encircled with crown of diamonds. from
which foated thin white veil. With her
DTi6ut eyes anu tue beautiful cOlOT OIL ueT
cheeks, she was altogether such a dazzling
sight that the Prince could hardly believe
his eyes.
How pretty you are. Felicia" he cried.
Don't keep me in suspense. l entreat you
say that you will marry me-"
II am sure" said the Queen, ''she will
not refuse you now"
Just then Bruno, who was going back
to his work, came out of his cottage. and
thought he must be dreaming when he saw
Felicia, but she called him very kindly, and
begged the Queen to take pity on him.
What. when he has been so unkind to
your"
Il am so happy that should like every
body else to be happy, too"
The Queen kissed her and said, WELL to
please you, let me see what I can do for
this cross Bruno" And with a wave of her
wand she turned the poor little cottage into
splendid palace. full of treasures. only
the two stools and straw beds remaining
just as they were, to remind Bruno of his
former poverty. Then the Queen touched
him and made him gentle and polite and
grateful. He thanked the Queen and Prin-
cess thousand times. Lastly. the Queen
restored the hen and the cabbages to their
natural forms. and left them all very con-
tented.
The Prince and Princess were married as
soon as possible with great splendor. and
lived happily ever after.