The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11
By ELIZABETH SYLE MADISON


ABOUT happened a long time ago
in faraway country, so you
must not be surprised if you hear of
such strange people as the Princess
Araminta and the fairy Good VIII. who
made the very first Of those beautiful
jewels with their soft red. blue and
gold lights which today we call opals.
But let Us begin with the princess.
She was lucky little princess, for
she was greatly beloved. had nearly
everything she wanted and some day
would become queen over the lovely
country in which she lived but some-
how her good fortune seemed to have
spoiled her, for she was vain and cold
hearted, TOO. over this the old king.
her father. often sighed and shook MS
head. yet he never seemed able to teach
his little daughter the kindness and
2entienesS ii was so necessary for her
10 know. But the fairies, it seems, had
tdeir bright eyes on Princess Araminta-
one day Araminta was riding through
the streets of the city on her way 70
the forest, where all sorts of merry
makings were to take place in honor of
her birthday On every side of the
kings daughter rode ladies and gentle
men Of the court. very finely dressed,
indeed, ard mounted or beautiful
horses with saddles and brides
the path OF the princess and her gay
train led through a part of the city
where some Of the poor people lived
and just as the riders laughing and
chattering, were passing by group of
cottages an old woman ran out and
threw herself on her knees before the
kings daughter, so that the princess
had TO rein in her horse Then the old
woman begged aims of Araminta for
herself and her sick son. for they were
both very poor. But Araminta after the
first glance turned her eyes away and
bade her party ride on. starting up her
own horse as she spoke and leaving
the old woman behind, with not even
a kind word.
Araminta soon forgot all about the
incident in tie excitement Of the sports
and dancing in the forest. bat toward
the end of the day she stole away from
the revelers TO rest in a quiet glade
among the trees, and then, somehow,
The thought of the old woman popped
back into her mind and began to make
her uncomfortable. You were very
cruel this morning, princess voice
seemed to be telling her, and Araminta
had TO confess, GROSSLY enough, that it
was true. AT last the voice bothered
the princess so much that she eX-
claimed in q pet. 'Oh, I'd give the
woman a bag fun Of money if L saw
of my mind
The words were scarce out of her
mouth when the Princess felt herself
erasped by a strong hand and gently
pulled up from her comfortable seat
on the old messy log. Araminta looked
all about yet could not see any one,
but there was no mistaking the pres
sure on her arm; somebody was lead
ing her away They. the wonderful,
unseen person and the princess went
out of the woods. past all the re felers
none Of whom seemed to see the kings
daughter at all. Pretty soon Araminta
guessed that she must be invisible and
that some fairy had hand in this
strange business. for in that far away
country SO long q so fairies were talked
about very commonly and the princess
had often heard of them. You may be
sure she was well frightened. but she
did not cry out or struggle. for she
knew il would be useless to resist
magic power
In silence these strange companions
wound through the streets and alleys
Of the city and at last came TO the little
house longing 10 the old woman who
had begged Of Araminta IN the morn
ing Though no doors opened they
went into the cottage and found the
old woman watching her sick SON. IN
deed her tired. sad face seemed to
prove that all she had told the princess
was true and Araminta began to feel
still more uncomfortable and little
ashamed.
But I have no gold with me-" she
said fretfuly, so I don't see what 1
can be expected to do now"
II can take you anywhere YOU want
to go said the voice at the princess
side (Which certainly did not belong to
either the old woman or her son and
which they did not seem to hear.
shall we go back 10 the palace and
bring gold TO the cottage?"
'Oh. very we'll" said Araminta, but
I hope it won't take long, In an in
suant the princess felt the magic pres
sure again en- her arm and she was
carried. she knew not how, to the pal
ace where she secured some pieces of
gold and, with the help Of her fairy
-..L.- IL. L