The Washington times., 1913-10-29
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
PETER AND THE PRINCESS.

| ~ nee upon a time there lived a
little boy named Peter. His
~ duty was to herd the great
! flocks of geese that belonged
to the King, and to do this he would
drive them sqauwking and fighting far
up amid the hills some distance from
the castle.
Peter was an orphan and had been
cared for by the head cook in the royal
kitchen. but he was a smart lad. He
was always working his brains and
never lost chance to learn all he
could. while the beef was roasting on
the split before the big fires he would
crouch in the corner and study over
some book he had found.
But Peter was very thin. Running
around all day over the hills after
straying geese had made him so slight
that, though he was fourteen, he did
not weigh more than lad of nine.
Nearly every afternoon the beautiful
Princess May rode by the fence on
which Peter would sit to read. She
was always dressed in crimson velvet
trimmed with gold lace, and the long
white plume on her hat was caught by
a diamond buckle The most lovely
creature in the world, the Lad thought
she was, AZ she went sweeping by with
a smile for the goose boy.
'I am going to marry the Princess"
Peter would often say as he sat by
the kitchen fire eating his supper.
Marry a gray goose-that is what
such as you deserve" laughed the cook
as she dished the gravy. What, a
gose-herder, the husband Of our prtn-
cess? Boy, you are losing the small
wit you have" But Peter studied and
said little about his plans
One day there was a great excitement
in the castle. The soldiers were sent all
ever the kingdom to gather in new men
for the army. In the stables there were
hurrying grooms, and the King himself
was so upset that he only ate three
plates of ice cream for desert, instead
of four, which was his usual allowance.
But worst of all, the princess spent her
time weeping.
1T is sad what happenings are taking
place" said the cook to Peter that
night. Here that old wretch, King
Hugo, is coming with a great force of
men to attack our good monarch He
him and he will take it unless the King
lets his son marry our princess
Il suppose that the princess does not
like the prince. them" asked Peters,
Like him. I should say not-he. Is
nothing but a big, fat greedy pig re-
piled the cook. And / hear he spends
his entire time at the table or snoring
in bed. / should think our lovely prin-
cess would not like such creature
That afternoon Peter sat sadly on
the fence to watch May go by, and ne
saw her eyes were red with weeping.
hut still she smiled sweetly at the
goose boy. Hardly had she returned
when he heard a great commotion
and in the distance saw a great army
of men and horses and banners and
guns approaching. And as he watch
ed till sunset he saw them camp In
field only a short distance from
where he herded his geese.
The next morning a royal herald
went through the land saying that
the King would grant the wish OF
any one who would rid him of his
foe. The King was not anxious TO
tight, for his army was small. SO
Peter thought he would try what he
could do.
The boy knew that in the field just
below him was a great hole with
very narrow opening above. He also
thought 1t likely that King Hugo
would climb up the very hill which he
used for the geese. as It was good
point from which to view the country,
and in order TO get there Hugo must
pass right by this big hole. So Peter
went early in the morning and covered