The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-04

once there was an old man who
! had three daughters. Now. the man
mad to go away on a very long jour
nv&. and before he set ont he asked
| his ,hree girls what he should bftoS
them. The eldest daughter said that
she would Ike pearls best; the neNt
oldest. mat she desired diamonds, bat
the souugest said; Father bring to
| a singing lark The father prom
tsed her, laughlngly. that should ne
chance 70 meet with soaring lark
she should have It for her own AM
set out on his journey with hghf
heart.
When hs was about to return nome
he had the diamonds aud pearls put
ssraty AWAY for his elder daughters,
but he had not been able To lind any
where a lark for his Youngest ana
d.arest child. New. his path lay
through a forest, and just ny chance
he came upon "a tree en- the uptap
branch " which a lark sat singing
We'll met Well met cried tie
man .alfLllA. and hade his servants
CAPTURE the bird at once Now as
soon as he had stepped up 10 the
tree. 4 great iton sprang upon hiIh'
roaring. I will eat you--ynu VINO
were about to steal my lark
How was to know that the bird
belonged 10 vou?" cried the poor man.
"Beheve me, did not know. Only
grant me my TIE ami WITH give
much silver and gold.
'tNaught can save YOU cried the
beast. save you promise 70 give te
me- the first person who comes 10
meet you on your way home. Give
me this. however, and you shall have
not only your life, but rhe bird Tor
your daughter as we'll,
Now. the man was just little fear
f,i T. accept this condition, thinking
tha+ perhaps his youngest and dear
est daughter would he the one 10
meet him: but at length he let him
self be persuaded, and, taking the
lark in It's cage. he promised N" iion
whatever should first cenfe fortr 10
meet him.
Finally he arrived at home, and the
first person 10 greet him on entering
the house was none other than his
Youngest and dearest daughter, who
ran up to kiss him and make him
welcome. The poor father could not
rejoice 10 see her, but. weeping, said
MY child. this bird ] bear has cost
me- dear. for have for II promised
yo, To a savage lion, who will most
likely tear you to pieces as soon as
NE sets eyes upon you" Sadly no
told her all that had come TO pass.
and told her to flee for her life, leay-
ing him to pay the consequences. But
his daughter would not hear Of this.
bidding him to remember that his
uromtsed word was sacred, and tell
ing him that she would try To soften
the heart of the lion, So that ne would
not eat her.
Next day she sell out boldly for the
forest Max, this lion was an en-
phanted but powerful prince, and ne
and his train were condemned t. ne
Hons by day but resumed their nat
ural shapes at night. When the maid
had arrived. therefore, she was re-
ccived with very great respect ana
led into the castle and when night
had come an. the ron had become 9
handsome prince, 1be wedding too
place amid great rejoicing. The maid
and the prince lived quite happily to-
gether. sleeping by day and resnming
their natural shape by night,
one day the lion said to his wife,
Tomorrow there will be great feast
ing In your fathers house. for your
eldest sister IL to be married, II
you have a desire to go, you shall be
escorted by my lions"
she answered that she would very
much like to see her father and family
again. and went. escorted by the en-.
chanted princes lions. There was
great rejoicing when she appeared, for
every one believed that she had been
long ago devoured by the lion But
she told them all that her husband
was very handsome and kind. and
went back very contentedly into the
forest wheE the wedding was over
Soon after this the second daugh-
ter was married, and again the young
est was invited to tie wedding But
she would not go alone. She insisted
that the prince should accompany
her. This he did not want To do, say
ing that should the ray from burn
ing light fall upon him he would