The Winslow mail., 1910-01-15
THE HAPPY
SECRET
By JESSIE ANNIE ANDERSON

Once upon time there lived a beau
tiful Princess who became so unhappy
IN winter that as soon. as the cold
season came she shut herself up in her
own rooms in the palace, and there
stayed until summer came round
again.
Her father was greatly distressed.
In vain he tried by splendid balls and
ice carnivais to draw the Princess
back into court life. She would only
sit in her own apartments aud think
how wretched everyone must be
Now, as she should be Queen on her
fathers death, and he was growing an
Old man. the ministers were alarmed
and advised the King 10 get her mar
rled as 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 her-apparcnt
TO land both 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
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-
clared
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
focks. the Fairy Queen came. and
said:
You must find the Great Gift for
the Princess"
"But what is it?" asked Ulf.
When you find it you shall know"
replied the Fairy Queen Il think it
is very near to the Princess already.
Go quickly to the city"
Upon this Ulf begged his master to
give him holiday, and set out as fast
as he could through the snow.
While he was trudging through a
great forest q little bird fell at his
feet. half frozen by the cold
Picking it up, he placed it in his
bosom to warm it, and presently. it
said:
narrow path until you reach hermit's
cottage. He who lives in that cottage
has the Great Gift
Thus speaking the little bird flew
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 Ulf's hand.
ut has often been lost by neglect"
he went on. 1T has been Clipped
and scratched by carelessness but
it has still virtue enough in it to make
the kingdom a lovely and a happy
place to whoever carries it,
Joyfully accepting the Great Gift,
Ulf thanked the giver, and set out
4 "a &C
palace.
Soon while he travelled, the youth
became aware of new, delightful
power within him. He could see un-
der the snow to where the roots of
all plants were kept safe and warm.
He saw into the hearts of trees and
shrubs and felt that they were 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 he knew it swept into hooks
and crannies and killed all evil things.
Every snowflake was a 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 been idle in the abund.
ance of summer were now constrained
to work; that the wasteful were
forced to be CAREFUL and that the
kind-hearted were more than ever
moved to deny themselves that they
might help others.
So that the same cold season which
killed evil insects and purified the
air, killed also selfshness, and made
hearts brighter warmer, and purer
than ever, and well content to lose
their pleasures for a season, as the
trees and plants lost their leaves.
Therefore, it seemed to Ulf that this
was the very pleasantest land in all
tho world