Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-11

Once upon a time, long, long ago, the stork brought two little princesses to the good King Wilhelm and his wife Wilhelmina.
 Joy reigned throughout the palace and great ceremonies were planned for the day of the christening. k
 Finally when the day arrived all the guests came, including the beautiful Princess Blacihair, who secretly loy- ed the king and hated the pretty blond queen.
 When all had expressed their good wishes for the beauty and happiness of the little princesses, Princess Black hair gave the crowning point of joy to the assemblage by saying that she had taken lessons of late from magician, who gave her the power to bestow the elixir of life upon the two children. The alabaster box containing the precious liquid, however. was kept for safety by wise man who lived alone on an island a thousand miles away. And year from the day of the christening a slave would arrive at the castle and condnct the king se- cretly to its biding place.
 Now when the time arrived for the kings departure the poor queen had many misgiving. But the king laugh
 
 they would have in bestowing such a gift upon their children.
 The poor queens fears proved only too true, for the king did not return, and every day the queen grew more and more sorrowful. suffering in health and spirits. The ladies in waiting were sad on beholding the unhappiness of their dear mistress and the gentlemen in waiting sorely missed their kind master.
 So the little princesses would have lived a very dull life with so many melancholy grown up people around them if 1t had not been for their little foster sister, Gretchen ,who was con- tinually inventing some new amuse- ment to please them.
 One day as the three little girls were playing in the garden Gretchen discovered little green parrot lying on the ground with a broken wing. She picked it up, wrapped it in her hand kerchief and carried it home where she nursed it until it was quite well On the day when he could spread his wing and fly once more she was sur prised by his asking if he could do anything for her. She immediately thought of her little playfellows and their fathers disappearance. Gan you find out for me-" she said where the king is kept a prisoner and ask him what we can do to gain his freedom?"
 T know where the king is living, said the little green parrot. He is ir a castle a great many leagues from here. A wicked magician has cast g spell over him and caused him to for ! get all his past and to imagine thai 1 he is in love with Princess Blackhair His little daughters have only to go 1 and stand before him, and the spell l will be broken. If you three will await me by the side of the river this even- ! ing I will ask the king of the swans l to carry us over, and from there it vii ! be only short journey on foot to the l door,"
 1 You may be sure Gretchen ran as 1 fast as She could to carry the news tC ] the queen and the little princesses. Int l queen mother felt many grave doubt: l about allowing her darlings to takt such a perilous journey alone. Bu ! she at last consented, giving to eacf | little cap which would make then l invisible by putting 1t on. Then sht | gave them much good advice, caution 1 ing them to put on the caps when il
 any danger.
 The little bird kept his promise, thu swans were waiting for them at thu
 river bank and each child seated her 1 self between the birds great wings l holding on tight to the faithful friends
 who so kindly offered to take them or
 their journey.