Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1909-12-18
THE HAPPY
SECRET
By JESSIE ANNIE ANDERSON

| bSdhOu came bne smut 0erSeH up IN neT
own rooms in the palace, and there
stayed until summer came round
again.
Her father was greatly distressed
In vain he tried by splendid balls and
ice carnivals to draw the Princess
back into court life. She would only
SIT in her own apartments and think
low wretched everyone must be.
Now, as she should be Queen on her
fathers death, and he was growing an
Ild man, the ministers were alarmed
and advised the King to get her mar
ried as a husband might manage her
better.
But the Princess declared that she
should marry only man who could
make the land pleasant from years
beginning to years end.
The ministers were in despair; but
the King proclaimed the decision Of
the Princess; and as she was famed
for. her beauty, and was heir-apparent
to land both large andfwealthy,
many suitors come forward with
plans.
These plans, however, were only
either to take the Princess away to
the suitor's own warmer kingdoms, or
to build in her own land magnificent
palaces, enclosing gardens and forests,
which should be safe from the cold of
winter from year to year, and to such
plans the Princess would not even
listen.
Il must see my own land, and all it's
people, pleasant and happy" she de.
clared.
Now. at the edge OF this kingdom
there lived youth named Ulf, who
was much befriended by the fairies
because of his goodness and industry,
and to him, as he tended his masters
flocks, the Fairy Queen came, and
said:
"You must find the Great Gift for
the Princess"
But what is it?" asked Ulf.
when you find 1t you shall know"
replied the Fairy Queen. II think II
is very near to the Princess already.
Go quickly to the city"
Upon this Ulf begged his master to
give him holiday and set out as fast
as he could through the snow
While he was trudging through a
great forest a little bird fell at his
feet, half frozen by the cold.
Picking IT up, he placed 1t in his
bosom to warm 1t, and presently, it
said:
Now shall help you. Go down the
narrow path until you reach hermits
cottage. He who lives in that cottage
has the Great Gift"
Thus speaking the little bird few
away; and, knowing that it was a
fairy bird, Ulf faithfully followed the
path; and ere long he came to the cot.
tage.
Near by the hermit was scattering
food for the birds.
Good morning, my son." he said.
"You have come for the Great Gift"
and, saying this, he placed a small
crystal heart in Ulf's hand
1T has often been lost by neglect"
he went on. ut has been Clipped
and scratched by carelessness; but
it has still virtue enough in it to make
the kingdom a lovely and a happy
place to whoever carries it,"
Joyfully accepting the Great Gift,
Ulf thanked the giver, and set out
again towards the city of the Kings
palace.
Soon while he travelled, the youth
became aware of a new, delightful
power within him. He could see un.
der the snow to where the roots of
all plants were kept safe and warm.
He saw into the hearts of trees and !
shrubs and felt thct they were gath
ering strength, and dreaming of sum.
mer whilst they slept under the snow.
He could see that beneath the ice the |
little fishes swan, warm and merry,
at the bottom OF the water And the |
icy air was no longer hateful to him, |
because he knew it swept into hooks |
and crannies and killed all evil things. |
Every snowflake was a fairy on some
good mission.
Coming out from the forest, and |
passing through the villages, Ulf |
knew in some magical fashion that |
those who had been idle in the abund- |
ance OF summer were now constrained |
to work; that the wasteful were |
forced to be careful; and that the |
kind-hearted we're more than ever
moved to deny themselves that they
might help others,
So that the same cold season which
killed evil insects and purified the
air, killed also selfahness, and made |
hearts brighter, warmer, and purer
than ever. and well content to lose
their pleasures for a season, as the I
trees and plants lost their leaves.
Therefore, it seemed to INF that this
was the very pleasantest land in all
the world
And because Of his thoughts his face
was 30 bright and noble that when
he reached the palace the servants
took him at once to their mistress, the