Sharp County record., 1910-01-14
THE HAPPY
SECRET
By JESSIE ANNE ANDERSON

stayed until summer came round
! again,
Her father was greatly distressed.
IN vain he tried by splendid balls and
Ice carniyals to draw the Princess
back into court life. She would only
sit in her own apartments and think
how Nrct2hed everyone must be-
Now, as she should be Queen on her
fathers Geath, and he was growing an
od ran, the ministers were alarmed
asd advised the King to get her mar.
riCd rs 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
Tic ministers were in despair; but
he King proclaimed the decision Of
'he Princess; and as she was famed
Sor her beauty, and was hoir-apparent
to a land both large and wealthy,
many suitors come forward with
plans,
These plans, however, were only
either to take the Princess away to
ilc 9Uitor'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
liston.
81 must see my own land, and all its
people, pleasant and happy" she de.
clarcd,
Now, at the edge OF this kingdom
there lived youth named Ulf, who
was much bciriendcd by the fairies
bccauae Of his goodness and industry,
and to hiG, as he tended his masters
ilocks, the Fairy Queen came, and
said,
You must find the Great Gift for
the IrnceG3.'
"lIOt what is it?" asked Ulf.
"Whcn you find it you shall know"
replied the Fairy Queen. 81 think it
Is very near to the Princess already.
Go quickly to the city"
Upon this Ulf begged bis master to
give him a holiday, and set out as fast
as he could through the snow.
While he was trudging through
great forest little bird fell at his
feet, half frozen by the cold
Picking It up, he placed it in his
bosom to warm 1t, and presently, It
said:
"Now ! shall help you. Go down the
narrow path until you reach a hermits
cottage, lie who lives in that cottage
has the Great GIFT
Thus speaking the little bird few
away; and, knowing that It was
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 Ulrs hand
1T has often been lost by neglect
he went on 1T has been clipped
md scratched by c0rolessness; but
II G0s still virtue enough In It to make
the kingdom u lovely and a happy
place to whoever carries It."
Joyfully accepting the Great GIFT,
VlC thanked the glycr, and set out
Ogaln towards the city Of the Kings
palace,
Soon while he travelled, the youth
became aware Of n new, delightful
power within him, He could see un.
der the snow TO whoro the roots Of
all plants were kept safo and warm.
He saw into the hearts of trees and
shrubs and felt that they were gath.
erIng strength and dreaming Of sum.
mcr whilst they slept under the snow,
llo could see that beneath the ice the
little fishes swan, warm and merry,
at the bottom Of the water And the
icy Oir was no longer hateful % him,
bccaUao he know It swept into nooks
aud crOnnios and killed all evil things,
Every snowflake was u 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 hoen idle IN the abund.
anco Of summer wore now constrained
10 work, that the wnStoful were
forced to be careful; and that the
knd'hoartcd were moro than ever
moved to deny themselves that they
might help others,
So that the sOmo cold season which
killed oyIl Insects and purified the
air. killed also sclhshncss, and made
hoarIa brighter, warmer, and purcr
than over, and well content to lose
thcir pleasures for Noason Os the
trees and plants lost tholr loaycs,
Therefore II seemed to Ulf that this
was tho very peNsantost land In all
the world
And because of his thoughts his face