Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06
Prince and Princess
FAIRY
L. AIcoH

"Ah, madam" she answered simply. 'if
have your friendship will do very we'll"
So the Queen took the ring and put It on
her finger and mounted her chariot which
was made Of coral, studded with emeralds,
and drawn by six milk-white horses And
Felicia looked after her until the winding
of the forest path hid her from her sight,
and then she went back to her cottage
thinking over all the wonderful things that
had happened.
The first thing she did when she reached
her room was to throw the cabbage out of
the window.
But she was very much surprised to hear
an odd little voice cry out: "Oh, I'm half
killed." and could not tell where it came
from, because cabbages do not generally
speak.
AS soon as it was light, Felicia, who
was very unhappy about her pot of pinks,
went out to look for 1t, and the first thing
she found was the unfortunate cabbage. She
gave 1t push with her foot, saying: What
are you doing here. and how dared you put
.If I hadn't been carried" replied the
cabbage, you may be very sure that
wouldn't have thought, Of going there"
the cabbage talk, but he went on:
''If you will be good enough to plant me
with my comrades again, can tell you
where your r pnks are re at this moment-hid-
Felicia was In despair when she heard
this. not knowing how she was to get them
back. But she replanted the cabbage very
ished doing It, she saw Bruno's hen, and
said. catching hold of it:
Come here, horrid little creature; you
snail suffer for all the unkind things my
brother has done to me-"
'Ah, shepherdess," said the hen, don't
XIII me; l am rather a gossip. and can tell
you some surprising things that you viii
like to hear. Don't imagine that you are
the daughter Of the poor laborer that brought
you up; your mother was Queen who
had six girls already, and the King threat
hat mia rIx~
inherit his kingdom she should have her
head cut off,
so when the Queen had another little
daughter she was quite frightened and
agreed with her sister (who was a fairy)
to exchange her for the fairy's little SON.
Now the Queen had been shut up in great
tower by the Kings orders, and when a
great many days went by and still she
heard nothing from the fairy, she made her
escape from window by means of a rope
ladder. taking her little baby with her.
dead with cold and fatigue, she reached this
cottage. | was the laborer's wife and was
a good nurse, and the Queen gave you into
my charge. and told me all her misfor-
tunes. and then died before she had time
to say what was to become of you.
AS never in all my life could keep
secret, l could not help telling this strange
tale to my neighbors. and one day a beauti-
full lady came here, and told il to her
also When l had finished she touched me
with wand she held in her hand, and in
Stdnly Uecame men, ana there was an
end of my talking. I was very sad, and
my husband, who was out when II happened.
never knew what became of me- After seek
ing me everywhere he believed that / must
have been drowned or eaten up by wild
beasts In the forest. That same lady came
mere once more, and commanded that you
should be called Felicia, and left the ring
and the pot of pinks to be given to YOU:
and while she was in the house twenty-aye
OF the kings guards came to search for
you. doubtless meaning to kill you but she
muttered few words. and Immediately they
all turned into cabbages II was one ~
them which you threw out of your window
yesterday.
II don't know how it was that he could
speak, have never heard any of them saw
a WORD before. nor have been able to do
so myself until now"
The Princess was greatly astonished at
the hens story. and said kindly: II am
truly sorry for you. my poor nurse, and
wish II was In my power to restore you to
your real form. But we must not despair:
II seems to me, after what you have told.
that something must be going to happen
soon. Just now. however. / must go and
look for my pinks, which I love better than
anything In the world"
Bruno had gone out into the forest never
thinking that Felicia would search in hts
room Tor the pinks, and she was delighted
by MS unexpected absence, and thought To
get them back without further trouble but
as soon as she entered the room she saw
a terrible army of rats who were guarding
the straw bed; and when she attempted to
approach 1t, they sprang to her, biting and
scratching furiously. Quite terrified. she
drew back, crying out. "Oh. my dear pinks.
how can you stay here In such bad COM
pany?"