The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-09

A long time ago there existed a
kingdom in the north of Fairyiand
ruled by a king named Strongheart.
King Strongheart's wife was named
Queen Doris, and she had three sons
and one daughter. Their names were:
Prince Fearless. Prince Adrasta,
Prince Didus. and Princess Daisy.
Beyond Strongheart's Kingdom lay
dense forest and on the other side
of this forest an immense city was
built. This city was inhabited by
Ogres and on a hill which stood in
the middle of the city was a castle.
and there dwelled in II the king Of
the Ggres. The Ogre king was very
cruel and every few weeks he sent
a party OF Cgres TO Strongheart' king
dom and carried away people. The
people were locked in dungeons under
the Ogre kings castle Many brave
citizens had tried to rescue the I'm
prisoned people, but they. too, were
caught and locked up.
AS King Strongheart cat on his
throne his councillors begged him
TO consult an old witch, who lived in
a howell on the borders Of the forest.
This he consented to. and the witch
said that the only way to rescue the
people was to find the magic lance,
which was hidden in a hollow tree In
the forest. The lance possessed the
1t touched to stone.
The councillors pondered over the
witch's words, and q month flew past
and no further action had been taken
TO rescue the people.
One morning the inhabitants were
surprised to see notices posted all
over the city. They read:
"A large reward will he paid to the
person who rescues our people from
the Ogres. All particulars concern
ing this Is to be had from the king"
stu nobody seemed anxious to go
to the help of the prisoners.
1t was one night that the three
princes came to their father and ask
ed permission To rescue his subjects
The king was reluctant in letting them
go, but ut last he consented. Ac-
cording1y on the following day the
princes set out with the well wishes
of the people and Gods blessing from
their parents. They travelled on for
days till they came to the borders Of
the forest, Here they rested and dis
cussed what they should do. At last
they decided that they should go in
different directions and search for the
hollow tree. Prince Fearless Journey
ed on. and after much trouble he
came to the hollow tree in which was
hidden the magic lance. The prince
drew out the lance and on it was In
scribed: Use me when in danger"
Swapping the lance on his back.
Prince Fearless walked till the sun
went down, and selecting a suitable
spot, he laid down to rest. How long
he slept he did not know, but when
he awoke he saw a dwarf. clothed in
red, and holding in his hand pair of
huge spectacles. These" exclaimed
the dwarf, giving the spectacles to the
prince, will enable YOU to see
through wood and stone--a present
from the Queen of Fairyland" Thus
speaking, he disappeared among the
thick underground, Prince Fearless
arose from the ground and started
off at a fair pace towards the Ogre's
palace.
Adjusting the spectacles, he looked
through the dense forest, and there I'm
the distance he beheid the outskirts
of the Ogre's city, and considered
that his best chance to get inside was
to wait till II grew darker. So he re-
tired under the cover of huge tree
When 1t was dark enough Prince
Fearless emerged from his hiding
place. looking a weird spectacle with
the huge glasses over his eyes, and
the lance (Which measured fifteen
feet iong) in his hand, Cautiously.