Year: 1876

to the lot of mortals to see, burs,


upon his view. Spleudid tables, load.


ell with all sorts of dainties and good


things that were ever made or served
by amy cooks or caterers in the


world, were spread down the length


OF the room, while all elegantly


dressed company stood before them


who seemed to be looking anxiously


towards two rich chairs of state, OH


raised platform overshadowed by q


gorgeous canopy, which stood where


the golden doors had formerly been,


as If waiting for them to be occupied
| before they sat down.


| Near the door stood the fair Chris.
label, more fresh and beautiful than


ever, and blushing like red rose


bud when she saw the prince ap-


preaching. Falling OH her knees, she


kissed his hand, thanking him rather


by looks than words for her -preser.
vaflon; the bcaniug, tcar-fillcd eyes
| telling plainly enough the love and
| gratitude her lips could not express.


But the prince also felt just as CRATE
| fnl TO her; for had she not been his
good angel, that had saved him from
ending his days in the miserable pit
Of the cruel dwarf? So he gallantly
raised her; and when he looked into
that sweet young face, love, too, yon
may be sure, was not long in follow
ing gratitude. Fondly he clasped her
i'll his arms, and as she wept happy
tears upon the manly bosom of the
young hero, she felt that hencefortL
she should never lack u true knight
and fearless defender. Then he led
her up 10 one OF the great chairs un-
der the canopy, himself taking the
other; and presently Christabel's
father and grand father, whom she
had not noticed as yet, came up to
embrace their darling and bless the
brave prince for their deliverance.


And now the good company present,
which indeed consisted ntirely of the
soldiers and others who had survived
the cruel treatment of the wickedPuk-
ket, sat down at the richly laden table,
and for long time the banquetting
and revelry were kept up with great
jolli:y. Curiously enongh, the ingen-
lous wooden automata served as the
walters at the feast, and accomplish
ed their new tasks with perfect sat-
lsfaction to the guests. The dwarf
had had no living creatures about
him except the three daughters OF
the fairy, Mallcia, and they had been
Instantly changed into black cats
when the great eye was shattered by
the sword of truth whence, to this
day, as you know, black cats are
sometimes said to be possessed by
witches.


Or course the prince married little
Christabel-it would be u shame, |
think, if the tale did not end thus
and the king, who was quite beside
himself with joy when he heard OF
the overthrow of Pukket's cruel
power, presented Castle Curious and
all the beautiful things within and
about it, as wedding gift to 1hr
happy young couple, appointing, as
their body-guard, the soldiers who
had been rescued from the prison
house of the dwarf. The marriage
festivities were acknowledged to be
the finest that had ever been known
IN the Kingdom, and the king was
present with al! his court to do honor
10 the joyous event.


All Christabel's family, who now
had a great abundance of riches and |
hOnors poured upon them, took up
their residence at the castle which, |
no longer den of lies, as heretofore,
was ever afterwards known as the |
L'alace of Truth. For many genera-
lions the great sword with which
The prince had wrought so mighty a
tehverance is said to have hung over
The chairs of state in the grand ban
Iueting hall and, for aught know,
t might still be found there if any
me were fortunate enough to discov-
II tie castle itself.


Z. BEYNBERG PORTER,