The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-01-15

after you have made all my sub
iacts wealthy and healthy" tainted
the brave ruler. OF course, the giant
had to grant his wish in order to set
him in his power. And, as the prince
was taken from his palace by the
giant, and fairly dragged along the
streets, crowds of healthy, happy peo-
pie thronsed the way, and cried, I'VE
will come fer you, Your Royal
Mightiness: you shall not long re-
main in the giants power
The vast army Of people went to
the very edge of the giants land with
their ruler; but here a sheer wall of
rock, thousands Of feet high, stopped
them, while the magic power of the
giant waited him and his royal pris-
oner right over the wall and into
the giants castle. The giant only
stayed long enough to set the ruler
at work in the dark mines, and then
he rushed off to the kingdom to Sc
cure more victims. The first person
he saw was a gentle little maiden.
She was seated before an open win
dow, working on q wonderful piece
of embroidery, in which, among soft
hues Of rainbow silk, flashed and
cleaned gorgeous jewels and bands
Of cleaning gold.
"Ah | need such worker as this
in my CASTLE" thought the grim old
giant and he stopped before the open
window.
His great black shadow fell on the
beautiful embroidery, darkened the
radiant colors, and caused the young
girl to look up. Now she was pretty
we'll frightened when she saw this
great giant before her; but she was
both brave and quick-witted, and as
she saw how dim her gold and jewels
looked, now that the brilliant sunlight
was shut off from them, thought
popped right into her pretty head.
ooh. good-morning, you big, brave
giant" she cried. Il was just wish
ing for your help in this piece of en-
broidery l am doing for the royal
palace. Now that you have made us
all rich, l can buy all the gold and
jewels that l wish. But l need one
thing more. Will you get it for me-"
Yes, and take the embroidery and
the pretty worker both to my CASTLE"
said the giant, in tone he tried
to make pleasant.
"Oh, you dear, kind giant" said
the maid, with merry laugh. Il
want few, just very few of those
beams, dancing on the grass behind
you, to weave in my work. Then it
will be perfect to,"-and she made
little pause, for she knew that the
giant could never capture a sunbeam,
to-" she went on mockingly, 'wel-
come back our brave, good ruler!"
The giant was beside himself with
rage, for he knew that the little maid
had asked the one impossible thing.
His punishment for his wicked life
| came so suddenly that he had not
even time to answer her. At ono and
the same instant he was transported
to an island in the midst of the, sea,
from which he could never return;
while the rocky walls Of his kingdom
fell to the ground, and al the pris-
oners there came back to their homes
to find there wealth and happiness.
AS the ruler entered the city, a
great crowd met him. and took him
to the pretty embroiderer.
Here, Your Majesty. is the maid
who has saved your kingdom!" they
cried The royal ruler took his
jewelled crown from his head, and
placed it on the head of the young
girl, saying, 81 greet thee, Queen OF
my kingdom!"
"No, Your Majesty" answered the
maid II should feel but sorrow if
had driven the giant from your king
dom only to force you from your
throne"
Then share my throne with me-"
said the ruler, who had fallen in love
with her sweet face and pretty man.
ners. "Come help ME with your wis
dom and kind heart to rule my king
dom"
This the little embroiderer consent.
ed to do; and the wonderful en-
broidery, in which not only sunbeams,
but moonbeams, and all the tints of
sunset and sunrise, seemed to flash
and mingle in rare beauty, became
the wedding gown of the fairest and
wisest queen that had ever been
known in that land.-Christian Reg.
ister