The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-01-13
THE HAPPY
SECRET
By JESSIE ANNIE ANDERSON

stayed until summer came round
again.
Her father was greatly distressed.
In vain he tried by splendid balls and
4 ice carnivals 10 draw the Princess
back into court life She would only
sit In her own apartments and think
how wretched everyone must be,
Now as she should be Queen on her
fathers death, and he was growing an
Z old man. the ministers were alarmed
and advised the King 10 get her mar
ried as a husband might manage her
better
But the Princess declared that she
should marry only a 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 heirapparent
( to a land 5oth large and wealthy,
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
4 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 its
people pleasant and happy, she de-
ciared
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
fiocks. the Fairy Queen came, and
said
You must find the Great Gift for
the Princess
But what is it," asked Iilf.
When you find it you shall know"
replied the Fairy Queen II think it
is very near TO the Princess already.
Go quickly to the city
Upon this ulf begged his master to
give him a holiday. and set out as fast
as be could through the snow
While he was trudging through a
great forest little bird fell at his
feet, half frozen by the cold
Picking 4 up, he placed Il in his
bosom TO warm ii, and presently. it
said
Now + shall help you Go down the
narrow path until you reach a hermits
cottage tie who lives in that cottage
has the Great Gift"
Thus speaking the little bird few
away. and knowing that Il was a
fairy bird. Ulf faithfully followed The
path and ere long he came to the Tot
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 small
crystal heart in Ulrs hand
lit has often been lost by neglect"
he went on ~lt has been chipped
and scratched by carelessness; but
1t has still virtue enough in it to make
the kingdom lovely and happy
place 10 whoever carries it,
Ioyfully accepting the Great Gift.
Ulf thanked the siver. and set out
again towards the city Of the Kings
palace
Soon while be travelled the youth
became aware az new. delightful
power within him life could see un.
der the snow to where the roots oi
all plants were kept safe and warm
He saw into the hearts OF trees and
shrubs and felt that they we're 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 be knew it swept into hooks
and crannies and killed all evil things.
Every snowflake was fairy on some
good mission
Coming ont from the forest and
passing through the villages. Ulf
knew in some magical fashion that
those who had been idle ID The abund.
ance of summer were now constrained
10 work that the wasteful were
forced TO be careful and that the
kind-hearted We're more than ever
moved ID deny themselves that they
might help others.
So that the same cold season which
killed evil insects and purified the
sir. killed also seihshness. and made
hearts brighter warmer. and purer
than ever. and wen content to lose
their pleasures for season, as the
trees and plants lost their leaves
Therefore Il seemed to Illf that this
was the very pleasantest land in ali
the world
And because OF his thoughts his face
was 80 bright and noble that when
he reached the palace the sergarts
took him az once 10 their mistress, the
Princess, for they knew that he had
some happy secret for her
And when he had entered the pres.
ence or the Princess and had given IL
her the crystal heart. she rose up
from her couch with a face as bright
a.. an ouooltc onl c,fI.