Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-02-17
The Princess and
the W0Od11la1l.



Every now and then a shaft OF sun
shine piercing the delicate screen OF
leaves strucl; echoing CLEANS OF
brightness in her golden hair, which
she wore in two long pleats fastened
lightly with slender chain cf pearls
and finished by great clasp of un-
cut emeralds just where the two
glossy braids met together below her
dainty waist.
Over her white childish forehead
the disordered curls were blown hith-
er snd thither by the morning breeze,
and once she put up her hand in its
embroidered leather glove and
brushed aside tendril that fell
across her violet eyes.
81 cans think where it has blown
to"
She addressed the gray charger as
he picked his way with caution down
the mossy aisle, and he turned his
mead obedientiy ct the sound OF the
gay young voice
al never say I hat run along so
fast"
\ blue bird swooped down with a
Gear ripping note across her path;
It's Ions green tail flashed in the sun
bear,. and it was gone.
II believe that bird laughed" said
the P-::acsss suddenly. 81 hope this
is rot q magic wood" and. she crossed
herself. with a quick glance back
ward over her shoulder.
For she had been we'll brought up.
The forest grew thicker and darker
al every step OF the wise gray horse,
and the moonshine filteriDg through
the heavy boughs was almost OBJ
scured.
Il don't like il at all" said the lit
tie Princess at last.
II wish 1 hadn't come all for the
sake OF a stupid old hat that blows
away"
She. gave an impatient sigh: fer
hbw was she to know that the wind
was entirely. blameless for once and
that a wandering Cupid safely tucked
under the hrim had borne the little
three-cornered hat aloft by invisible
wings. he himself but the servant Of
a higher power, Turing the little feet
in their red morocco shoes right into
the dangerous paths Of love-:
There was rustic in the under
growth and a flash OF copper as a fox
stole ont OF It's lair to gaze at the
royal intruder. 1at..i y.
For was she not aNking- S. daughter
come from far and norrfefn land
to we'd the prince OF that very forest
where the red fox lived?
And would it not be fine tale to
tell mother fox and the cubs at homee
So he stared up at her furtive1y
out of his sharp bright eyes, and the
little Princess clapped her hands with
delight.
But this was too much for forest
nerves. and he skunk back with his
brush laid fiat and his wicked point
ed ears against his head and vanished
from her sight.
And the loneliness seemed heavier
than before.
Il wish / hadn't run away" said
the Princess sadly.
''I know it's breakfast time, and
believe"-a little frightened look
came into the violet eyes-"I believe
we're lost. Bonnyboy."
She pulled her steed up suddenly
and slipping down to the ground
flung her arms around the comforta-
BILE gray neck.
You understand. don't you?" she
whispered with her face pressed
against the satiny skin. II don't
want to be married to any prince.
I want to stay al home with you and
the dear white rabbits and Dame Sun.
flower, and-and wear my hair in g
pig tail and be happy. I'm sure e
crown hurts"
The gray charger muzzled his pink
nose gently against the royal purple
of her robe, and she ran her little
fng. 3 through his tangled name,
while Comfort, the fairy whose 9TH
er name 5 Human Sympathy, and
who, fingers where hearts are warm.
cast his feecy mantle round the
childish shoulders.
Sc after little while she mounted
again and with fine courage turned
not back, but rode forward steadily
into the very heart Of the wood.
- And once she caught glimpse of
the bluebird overhead, and anon a
pure white hare hoped out on to the
narrow path and looked up with
friendly fearlessness at her out of his
round pink eyes.
Then, turning, ne started off down
the glade ahead, an outrider in snowy
livery showing her the way.
Forgetting her hunger and loneli-
ness, the little Princess smiled, for
she loved all creatures, great and
small, and despite her royal birth
she had lived simple country life
until this long journey south to wed
the prince.
. And shortly they came to where
four paths met, and there to her won
der and delight she saw the little
three-cornered hat with the great
crimson plume that marked its own
er's' rank perched upon the bough of
chestnut tree above her.
She rode Bonnyboy up to it and,
standing in her stirrup, tried to reach
with the end of her tasselled whip.
But in vain. Once she actually