The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-19

 flattering and cajoling her royal mis- tress-who was rather weak woman Gruffanuff had got herself made a
 countess and obtained the important post of governess to the Princess An
 gelica. There was a mystery about the disappearance of Gruffanuff's husband,
 the footman. He had simply disappear
 ed! The Fairy Blackstick was respon- sible for this; but the matter was little known and only darl1ly. hinted at in the court of Patagonia
 The Fairy Blacksticlz was an old wo-
 man who got her name from the fact
 that she was generally seen carrying about an ebony cane with a crooked handle to assist her aged steps. Also she dabbled in magic. She rather af- fected royal families, and used to pre- sent herself at royal christenngs and
 bestow various weird gifts upon the
 royal babies. All her gifts were charms to bring good fortune to the infants, and after while the old woman came to the conclusion that the royal folk had too much good fortune as a rule, anyway-that to add to it was bad for them; so she gave up going to christen- ings. The gifts of fortune, she had ob- served, were almost always abused. So when Duke Padella's lady-he was only duke then, though he afterward seized the crown-when the wife of Padella of Grim Tartary presented him with a boy, Blackstick, although invited to the christening, only sent her compliments and a silver papboat, with three guineas. About the same time the Queen of Patagonia presented his ma jesty with q son and heir, the present Prince Giglio. Blackstick went to the christening, but in no good humor. When they showed her the royal child she said: "The best thing I can wish him is a little misfortune" That was all she would say. much to the disgust of Giglio's parents, who died soon after, when Giglio's uncle, Valoroso, seized the crown.
 In like manner when King Caval- flores (of Grim Tartary) queen pre- sented him with a little daughter, who was named Rosalba, Blackstick went tc see the child and said: "The best thing I can wish her is a little misfortune" And the wish of Blacksticl1 had cer- tainly come true; for Giglio wore not the crown of Patagonia and Rosalba wore not that of Grim Tartary. And where was this Rosalba? Nobody knew. She was supposed to be dead. When her parents were dead and Padella usurped the throne the cruel monarch had caused the girl to be carried to a forest which was mostly inhabited by bears and there left to her fate. How ever, some people thought she was still alive.
 When the Princess Angelica was born her parents not only did not invite old lady Blackstick to the christening, but gave orders to the porter to absolutely refuse her admission should she present herself at the palace door. And this porter was Gruffanuff. Hence his dis appearance.
 He was tall, fierce man, that Gruffa- huff, who could say Not at home" in manner to freeze your blood. When Blackstlck came to the door and in quired If the princess was at home he replied: Not at 'ome; get away, hold Blackstick. I tell you Marster and Missus aint at 'ome to you. Do you think I am going to stay ere all day?' Old lady Blackstick was angry. She waved her wand, and the first thing Gruffanuff knew he was changed into a bronze knocker and was hanging there on the front door of the palace grinning horribly. He was turned into Ioi, |.
 The King and Queen coming home from a walk the King said: "Hullo my dear, I see we have new knocker on the door," and thought nothing more about it. Of course Gruffanuffs disap- pearance created some talk and sur mise; but 1t was finally agreed that he had run away from his ugly spouse and nobody blamed him. As for his wife, she did not regret him, for he was al ways guzzling at the public house, get ting into debt to the tradesmen and quarreling with his wife.
 One day, after Naloroso had become King of Paflagonio and Padella King of Grim Tartary, the Princess Angelica was walking with her governess, the Countess Gruffanuff, in the palace gar dens, when they saw such a funny, little girl with her hair blown about her face as if it had not been combed for long time. She wore a ragged bit of cloak and had only one shoe on. "Who are you? How came you in here, you little wretch?" cried Gruffanuff. Little lion was my brudder, great big lioness my mudder; never heard of any other." replied the child, capering. "Gib me that bun, I'm hun gry." Angelica gave the child the bun and old Gruffanuff said with rapture: How good and kind you are, my dear darling of princess, to give the child whole bun" But I didn't want it." said Angelica. But you are an angel, all the same" flattered Gruffanuff "Yes, I know I am," replied Angelica Dirty little girl. do you think me very pretty?" "Oh booty, booty" laughted the dirty little girl, and the queen coming out just then, Angelica was so delighted by the appreciation of the child that she said
 Mamma, my parrot escaped from it's cage yesterday, and l think this funny, dirty little child will amuse me-" And so it
 was that Betsnda, as they called her, be- came maid to the Princess Angelica And
 now let us speak of Prince Giglio As long as he had decent coat to wear
 and shilling or so in his pocket he did rot bother much with state affairs. He law. as a prince should, but was a great