The Washington times., 1913-01-27
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
PETER AND THE PRINCESS.
E1ER lived with his father and
mother on a small farm. and
while they were not rich they

while they were not rich they
'were far from poor.
Peters father was named Stephen.
ard his mothers name was Agatha.
They loved their son very dearly, or
course, and wanted him to marry a
girl who would be a suitable wife for
ore in his station in life.
Agatha had picked out a girl, the
daughter of a farmer not far from
them, who was strong and could do
as much work in a day as man.
Peter did not want that sort of
girl for his wife, 9'--
'I want a wife that will love me
ard that can love-" he told his
mother: "she must be good TO look
upon as well as strong. The kings
daughter would please me very much.
When Agatha and stephen heard
this they threw up their hands and
exclaimed "The Princess Adela a wife
for you, why. son, you must be mad
to think of such thing!'
+. But Peter only shook his head and
said: II do not expect she would look
at a poor boy like me, but / want her
for my wife. and IL i cannot win her
will not wed anyone.
Not look at your said Agatha, who
thought her son Peter good enough for
any one, even a princess: lit is she who
is not good enough TO be your wife; that
is what l am thinking"
Yes" said Stephen: what sort of
wife would she make. l should like to
know. She cannot milk a COW OF bake
bread. You need wife that gan do
this and more to have a wife worthy of
you and the farm"
But / do not want a wife to bake,
and tend cows said Peter. II want a
wife that will love me and one that
can love- But she will not look at me,
of that / am sure he added with
sigh.
That night, when Peter was asleep,
his mother and father sat before the
fire talking over what had happened.
Il do not see why the boy should not
have the princess IL he wants her. said
Agatha; Il could, perhaps, teach her
to cook and do the work as Peters
wife should"
But stephen said NO she would
never do for Peters wife: he must wed
a girl who knew how to cook. and he
was sure the princess knew nothing of
that art.
Now it happened that about the same
time that stephen and Agatha were
talking to Peter about taking wife
that the king and queen were talking
to the princess about a husband.
You shall marry the prince who lives
in the kingdom adjoining ours said the
king, "and when you are married that
will ioin the two Kingdoms, making you
queen of the largest Kingdoms in the
world
But | do not love the prince" said
the princess: 81 want a man who will
love me for myself alone, not because
of my wealth. The son of Peter and
Agatha on the farm down the road
would please me very much; he is
strong and handsome
"a farmers son for your husband"
screamed the queen. almost fainting
at the thought: the idea of princess
marrying a farmers boy.
81 should think you were crazy"
said her father. III | did not think you
were silly to think of such n, thing.
What you need is a husband who can
rule with ou and care for this kingdom
when we are gone and you are queen" \"
Il know, I know" said the little
princess, signing: 1t Is Of no Use to
think of Peter for husband: he is so
big and handsome and Is so wise lie
would never look at me, much less
think Of making me his wife; but If |
cannot have him | viii remain single all
tie days Of my life"
Not have you, a kings daughter.
said the king. looking very angry;
~ hat do you mean by saying that?' =
why. Peter wants a wife that can
cook and care for his farm. and am as
ignorant Of all that is useful in the
" orId that | know. OF course. he would
not have me for his wife. And. besides.
heard that Stephen and Agatha said
that a princess was not a wife they
wanted for their son.
That night after the princess had re-
tired the king and queen talked over
what had happened. just as Stephen
and Agatha had done. and the king said:
Il suppose we better let her have Peter
II she wants him. I can teach him how
to care for 2 Kingdom"
First | will teach her tn cook" said