Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-23
PEARLS OF GREAT PRICE

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once upon a time there was king,
who had an only son named Charles.
Now, this king was very anxious that
his son should marry, and as he wished
to choose for him a wife who was a
princess, who was beautiful and who
was wealthy, he sent out heralds far
and near to issue proclamations in
viting one hundred princesses to come
the following week and spend month
at his castle. They We're to pass their
days in merrymaking. At the end of
the time Prince Charles would an
nounce the chosen one.
The heralds issued the proclama-
tions and all was excitement at the
castle; there were many rooms to be
aired and swept, to accommodate so
many princesses; there was much
and wines, candies and puddings to
be made.
Soon the princesses began to arrive;
they drove up in gorgeous chariots
with powdered footmen and French
dressing maids, but the king was firm,
no princess, however beautiful, could
visit at his castle unless she could
wait upon herself, SO the powdered
footmen and the French maids drove
back to their homes again, after leav-
ing huge trunks full of finery with
their beloved princesses.
Now all was gayety, and every room
was occupied save one. Why did not
the absent one appear? Suddenly the
gatekeeper proclaimed the coming of
a new arrival; the gates were thrown
open and the heralds announced in
loud tones the name of the Princess
Amelia.
The king and prince stepped down
from their thrones AMI beheld a young
girl clad in plainest calico, but her
face was very beautiful, her long hair
shone like satin and fell in ringlets
to her knees, and her eyes sparkled
like diamonds.
Charles whispered to his father:
"The Princess Amelia shall be my
BRIDE" but the king with a frown re-
piled: "Wait until 1 hear the amount
of her fortune" Then the king said:
Princess Amelia, please tell me what
dowry your father has settled on you"
She answered: king, 1 am very
wealthy, as L possess pearls of great
price, which are youth, innocence and
industry" Then the king took Prince
Charles aside and forbade him to
marry Amelia. Was not the Princess
Eta the possessor of a silver mine,
which was worth millions of dollars,
which she declared she was willing to
bestow upon Charles if she were the
chosen one?
The month was passing away and
each day Prince Charles loved the
beautiful Amelia more and more; but
she refused to listen to his pleadings
that she become his bride-did not the
princesses well know that Eta with
her silver mine was the chosen one?
One day the court physician announced
the merrynaking must cease; Prince
Charles was very i'll with the black
smallpox; all must leave the castle for
fear of contagion.
The Princess Eta, who had sworn
undying love for Charles, rushed mad
ly away; the other princesses followed
her very quickly, and soon the castle
was deserted by all save the king, the
court physician and Amelia, who Went
to the king and begged leave of him
to nurse the prince. A stern refusal
came at once; was she not a penniless
girl? She must not be allowed to risk
a chance of marring her wonderful
beauty, which she would certainly do
if she should contract the dread dis
ease. But she knelt at the-king's feet
and cried: Il am not penniless; L am
very wealthy, as l possess pearls of
great DIlCe, WHICH arc 5OOu lSSNANAAJ
strong nerves and undying love for
Charles" Then the king allowed Anne
liza to do the nursing, which she did
with wondrous skill, and she knew
how to apply such magical washes
that when Charles recovered not a
scar remained.
The king was now so captivated by
Amelia that he longed for the time to
come when Charles might marry her.
one morning, when Amelia and
Charles were seated side by side in the
forest, the king came to them, and.
kneeling at Amelia's feet, exclaimed:
"Oh, beautiful Amelia, L pray thee
to become my daughter! Although
penniess, now know that thy pearls
OF great price are invaluable" Charles
also joined in the pleading, and as the
Princess Eta had married the duke
i'm the next kingdom there was nothing
to prevent Amelia from consenting.
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