Oxford Democrat., 1911-03-14

THE BUTTERFLY STOPPED AND KISSED
THE PRINCESS"
In nil the summer world Of roses there
wos none 80 beautiful as the>princess.
and"-
"I don't believe she was quite so
beautiful as my mother" tenderly III
terrupted the little rosebud.
The full blown rose laid her cheek
against the little rosebud's pink fore
head
please 20 on. mother, dear"
"Tbe princess always wore gowns OF
gold and for jewels pearls Of sunlit
dew. Naturally so lovely creature
had many to do her homage, but the
most ardent Of all her admirers was
whom do you suppOse"
| In vain the little rosebud tried to
guess.
"a caterpillar"
"Not an ugly 'woolly bear caterpil-
lar"
"fhe very same! The beautiful prin'
cess, indignant ut his attentions
spurned him as IL worm, and the cater
pillar crawled away in the dust"
"Poor fellow" sighed the rosebud.
for she was n sweet. tender hearted
little thing
"His hopeless love for the princess,
mother sadly continued. "was so deel
that life without her seemed worthless,
and, stretching himself out on leaf.
the caterpillar refused to eat. Then
something wonderful happened.
"I'm your fairy godmother.' sill
very voice whispered in his ear. 'Wha:
ever you wish | can give you II you
will but contide In me.
"At first the bewildered caterpillar
thought he was dreaming, becau'e he
saw no one, not realizing that fairy
codmothers are invisible. But soon hp
was pouring out his passion for thu
rose princess and her scOrn OF him OIL
account Of his ugliness.
"The silvery voice laughed. Have
faith and patience and you shall have
your hearts desire. Your rose Is II
golden princess of garden. You shall
be golden prince Of the air.
"As the silvery voice died away
there was prick IN the caterpillar's
side like the touch Of fairy wand
and 10 longer could he see the briSh!
green leaves about him, no Longer
could he see the dazzling sun Owe
him, for veil Of silky film enveloped
him, growing denser. fold upon fold
until all was dark and the caterpillar
had fallen into deep slumber."
"Was he dead?" the little rosebud
breathlessly questioned.
Indeed, no-only under magi'
spell. But when he awoke he had
very strange sensations. Instead o.
feeling heavy. clumsy and cross b.
was filed with the buoyant joyfulneS
of bird awakened by the dawn.
".Flyr whispered the sllvery voice
And like the same bird he darted for
ward.
"A-thrill with the new life, quiverin:
with fear that he would fall to enrtt
groveling worm. he fluttered for res'
upon a flower trimmed fountain In tho
midst Of the enchanted garden. Their
in the mirror of the crystal water h'
bcheld himself-a wonderful COLDER
butterfly"
"And did he forget the princess" i'm
patiently asked the little rosebud.
"Not an instant. From the fountain
the golden prince of the air winged hi
flight to the golden princess of thu
garden. The beautiful princess wa:
leaning out of window Of the greer
palace gathering sunbeams. And whe!
she lifted her head and saw the glo
rious butterfly lowering above her sh'
; loved him at first sight"
"And the butterfly" the little rose
| bud murmured drowsily.
|, "The butterfly" concluded mother
, STOPPED and kissed the princess upor
her forehead. And every sweet sum
mer day they loved each other more
perfectly. 80 that the two lived hap
PLY ever afterward and
With hushed lips the full blown ros'
rocked to and fro In the soft nigh
. breeze. The little rosebud had fallel