 STORY 23 OF THE FAIRY RING The Fairy Ring, edited by Kate Douglas Wigan and Nora Archibald Smith. STORY 23 GRASSIOSA AND PERSONNETT Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had one charming daughter. She was so graceful and pretty and clever that she was called Graciosa, and the queen was so fond of her that she could think of nothing else. Every day she gave the princess a lovely new frock, of gold brocade or satin or velvet, and when she was hungry she had bowls full of sugar plums and at least twenty pots of jam. Everybody said she was the happiest princess in the world. Now there lived at this same court a very rich old duchess whose name was Grumbly. She was more frightful than tongue can tell. Her hair was as red as fire, and she had but one eye, and that not a pretty one. Her face was as broad as a full moon, and her mouth was so large that everyone who met her would have been afraid they were going to be eaten up. Only she had no teeth. As she was as cross as she was ugly she could not bear to hear everyone saying how pretty and how charming Graciosa was. So she presently went away from the court to her own castle, which was not far off. But if anybody who went to see her happened to mention the charming princess, she would cry angrily. It's not true that she is lovely. I have more beauty in my little finger than she has in her whole body. Soon after this, to the great grief of the princess, the queen was taken ill and died, the king became so melancholy that for a whole year he shut himself up in his palace. At last his physicians, fearing that he would fall ill, ordered that he should go out and amuse himself, so a hunting-party was arranged. But as it was very hot weather, the king soon grew tired, and said he would dismount and rest at a castle which they were passing. This happened to be the Duchess Grumbly's castle, and when she heard that the king was coming, she went out to meet him, and said that the cellar was the coolest place in the whole castle, if he would condescend to come down into it. So down they went together, and the king, seeing about two hundred great casks, ranged side by side, asked if it was only for herself that she had this immense store of wine. Yes, sire, answered she, it is for myself alone, but I shall be most happy to let you taste some of it. Which do you like? Canary, St. Julian, Champagne, Hermitage Sack, Raisin, or Cider? Well, said the king, since you are so kind as to ask me, I prefer Champagne to anything else. Then Duchess Grumbly took up a little hammer and tapped upon the cask twice, and out came at least a thousand crowns. What's the meaning of this? she said, smiling. Then she tapped the next cask, and out came a bushel of gold pieces. I don't understand this at all, said the Duchess, smiling more than before. Then she went on to the third cask, tap, tap, and out came such a stream of diamonds and pearls that the ground was covered with them. Ah! she cried, this is altogether beyond my comprehension, sire. Someone must have stolen my good wine and put all this rubbish in its place. Rubbish? Do you call it, Madame Grumbly? cried the king. Rubbish! Why, there is enough there to buy ten kingdoms. Well, she said, you must know that all those casks are full of golden jewels, and if you like to marry me, it shall all be yours. Now the king loved money more than anything else in the world, so he cried joyfully, Marry you, why, with all my heart, to-morrow, if you like. But I make one condition, said the Duchess, I must have entire control of your daughter to do as I please with her. Oh, certainly, you shall have your own way, let us shake hands upon the bargain, said the king. So they shook hands and went up out of the cellar of treasure together, and the Duchess locked the door and gave the key to the king. When he returned to his own palace, Graciosa ran out to meet him and asked if he had had good sport. I have caught a dove, answered he. Oh, do give it to me, said the princess, and I will keep it and take care of it. I can hardly do that, said he, for to speak more plainly I mean that I met the Duchess grumbly, and have promised to marry her. And you call her a dove, cried the princess. I should have called her a screech owl. Hold your tongue, said the king very crossly. I intend you behave prettily to her, so now go and make yourself fit to be seen, as I am going to take you to visit her. So the princess went, very sorrowfully, to her own room, and her nurse, seeing her tears, asked what was vexing her. Alas! who would not be vexed, answered she, for the king intends to marry again, and he has chosen for his new bride my enemy, the hideous Duchess Grumbly. Oh, well, answered the nurse. You must remember that you are a princess, and are expected to set a good example in making the best of whatever happens. You must promise me not to let the Duchess see how much you dislike her. At first the princess would not promise, but the nurse showed her so many good reasons for it that in the end she agreed to be amiable to her stepmother. Then the nurse dressed her in a robe of pale green and gold brocade, and combed out her long, fair hair till it floated round her like a golden mantle, and put on her head a crown of roses and jasmine with emerald leaves. When she was ready nobody could have been prettier, but she still could not help looking sad. Meanwhile, the Duchess Grumbly was also occupied in attiring herself. She had one of her shoe heels made an inch or so higher than the other that she might not limp so much, and put a cunningly made glass eye in the place of the one she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted her face. Then she put on a gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with blue, and a yellow petticoat trimmed with violet ribbons. And because she had heard that queens always rode into their new dominions, she ordered a horse to be made ready for her to ride. While Graciosa was waiting until the king should be ready to set out, she went down all alone, through the garden, into a little wood where she sat down upon a mossy bank, and began to think. And her thoughts were so doleful that very soon she began to cry. And she cried and cried, and forgot all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a handsome page standing before her. He was dressed in green, and the cap which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes. When Graciosa looked at him, he went down on one knee and said to her, Princess, the king awaits you. The princess was surprised, and if the truth must be told, very much delighted at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not remember to have seen before. Thinking he might belong to the household of the duchess, she said, How long have you been one of the king's pages? I am not in service of the king, madam, he answered he, but in yours. In mine, said the princess, with great surprise, then how is it that I have never seen you before? Ah, princess, said he, I have never dared to present myself to you, but now the king's marriage threatens you with so many dangers that I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and I trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Personette, of whose riches you may have heard, and whose fairy gift will, I hope, be of use to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you under this disguise. Ah, Personette, cried the princess, is it really you? I have so often heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be my friend, I shall not be afraid of that wicked old duchess any more. So they went back to the palace together, and there Graciosa found a beautiful horse which Personette had brought for her to ride. As it was very spirited he led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him to turn and look at the princess often, which he did not fail to do. Indeed she was so pretty that it was a real pleasure to look at her. When the horse which the duchess was to ride appeared beside Graciosas it looked no better than an old cart-horse, and as to their trappings there was simply no comparison between them, as the princess's saddle and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds. The king had so many other things to think of that he did not notice this, but all his courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the princess and her charming page in green, who was more handsome and distinguished-looking than all the rest of the court put together. When they met the duchess grumbly she was seated in an open carriage, trying in vain to look dignified. The king and the princess saluted her, and her horse was brought forward for her to mount, but when she saw Graciosas she cried angrily, �If that child is to have a better horse than mine, I will go back to my own castle this very minute. What is the good of being a queen if one is to be slighted like this?� Upon this the king commanded Graciosas to dismount, and to beg the duchess to honor her by mounting her horse. The princess obeyed in silence, and the duchess, without looking at her or thanking her, scrambled up upon the beautiful horse, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and eight officers had to hold her up for fear she would fall off. Even then she was not satisfied, and was still grumbling and muttering, so they asked her what was the matter. I wish that page in green to come and lead the horse, as he did when Graciosa wrote it, she said very sharply. And the king ordered the page to come and lead the queen's horse. Personette and the princess looked at one another, but said never a word, and then he did as the king commanded, and the processions started in great pomp. The duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in state would not have wished to change places even with Graciosa. But at the moment when it was least expected, the beautiful horse began to plunge and rear and kick, and finally to run away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop him. At first the duchess clung to the saddle, but she was very soon thrown off and fell in a heap among the stones and thorns, and there they found her, shaken to a jelly, and collected what was left of her as if she had been a broken glass. Her bonnet was here and her shoes were there, her face was scratched and her fine clothes were covered in mud. Her was a bride seen in such a dismal plight. They carried her back to the palace and put her to bed, but as soon as she recovered enough to be able to speak she began to scold and rage, and declared that the whole affair was Graciosa's fault, that she had contrived it on purpose to try and get rid of her, and that if the king would not have her punished she would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by herself. At this the king was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to lose all those barrels of gold and jewels, so he hastened to appease the duchess, and told her she might punish Graciosa in any way she pleased. Thereupon she sent for Graciosa, who turned pale and trembled at the summons, for she guessed that it promised nothing agreeable for her. She looked all about for personette, but he was nowhere to be seen. So she had no choice but to go to the duchess Grumbly's room. She had hardly got inside the door when she was seized by four waiting women who looked so tall and strong and cruel that the princess shuddered at the sight of them, and still more when she saw them arming themselves with great bundles of rods, and heard the duchess call out to them from her bed to beat the princess without mercy. Poor Graciosa wished miserably that personette could only know what was happening and come to rescue her, but no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found to her great relief that the rods had changed to bundles of peacock's feathers. And though the duchess's women went on until they were so tired they could no longer raise their arms from their sides, yet she was not hurt in the least. However, the duchess thought she must be black and blue after such a beating, so Graciosa, when she was released, pretended to feel very ill and went away into her own room where she told her nurse all that had happened, and then the nurse left her, and when the princess turned round there stood Personette beside her. She thanked him gratefully for helping her so cleverly, and they laughed and were very merry over the way they had taken in the duchess and her waiting-maids, but Personette advised her still to pretend to be ill for a few days, and after promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him, he disappeared as suddenly as he had come. The duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was really ill that she herself recovered twice as fast as she would have done otherwise, and the wedding was held with great magnificence. Now as the king knew that above all other things the queen loved to be told that she was beautiful, he ordered that her portrait should be painted, and that a tournament should be held, at which all the bravest knights of his court should maintain against all comers that grumbly was the most beautiful princess in the world. Chambers of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and the hideous queen sat in great state in a balcony hung with cloth of gold to watch the contests, and Graciosa had to stand up beside her where her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not keep their eyes off her. But the queen was so vain that she thought all their admiring glances were for herself, especially as, in spite of all the badness of their cause, the king's knights were so brave that they were the victors in every combat. However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young, unknown knight presented himself. He carried a portrait, enclosed in a box, encrusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain against them all that the queen was the ugliest creature in the world, and that the princess whose portrait he carried was the most beautiful. So one by one, knights came out against him, and one by one he vanquished them all, and then he opened the box, and said that to console them he would show them the portrait of his queen of beauty, and when he did so, everyone recognized the princess, Graciosa. The unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and retired, without telling his name to anybody, but Graciosa had no difficulty in guessing that it was personette. As to the queen, she was so furiously angry that she could hardly speak, but she soon recovered her voice, and overwhelmed Graciosa with a torrent of reproaches. What, she said, do you dare to dispute with me for the prize of beauty, and expect me to endure this insult to my knights? But I will not bear it, proud princess, I will have my revenge. I assure you, madam, said the princess, that I had nothing to do with it, and am quite willing that you should be declared queen of beauty. Ah, you are pleased to jest, Popin' Jay, said the queen, but it will be my turn soon. The king was speedily told what had happened, and how the princess was in terror of the angry queen, but he only said, The queen must do as she pleases. Graciosa belongs to her. The wicked queen waited impatiently until night fell, and then she ordered her carriage to be brought. Graciosa, much against her will, was forced into it, and away they drove, and never stopped until they reached a great forest, a hundred leagues from the palace. This forest was so gloomy, and so full of lions, tigers, bears, and wolves, that nobody dared pass through it, even by daylight, and here they sat down the unhappy princess in the middle of the black night, and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties. The princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment, but when the last sound of the retreating carriage died away in the distance, she began to run aimlessly, hither and thither, sometimes knocking herself against a tree, sometimes tripping over a stone, fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by the lions. Presently she was too tired to advance another step, so she threw herself down upon the ground, and cried miserably. Oh, personette, where are you? Have you forgotten me altogether? She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden glow. Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance, which was clearer than moonlight, and softer than daylight, and at the end of a long avenue of trees opposite to her the princess saw a palace of clear crystal, which blazed like the sun. At that moment a slight sound behind her made her turn around, and there stood personette himself. Did I frighten you, princess? said he. I come to bid you welcome to our fairy palace, in the name of the queen, my mother, who is prepared to love you as much as I do. The princess joyfully mounted with him into a little sledge, drawn by two stags, which bounded off and drew them swiftly to the wonderful palace, where the queen received her with the greatest kindness, and a splendid banquet was served at once. Graciosa was so happy to have found personette, and to have escaped from the gloomy forest and all its terrors, that she was very hungry and very merry, and they were a gay party. After supper they went into another lovely room, where the crystal walls were covered with pictures, and the princess saw, with great surprise, that her own history was represented, even down to the moment when personette found her in the forest. Your painters must indeed be diligent, she said, pointing out the last picture to the prince. They are obliged to be, for I will not have anything forgotten that happens to you, he answered. When the princess grew sleepy, twenty-four charming maidens put her to bed in the prettiest room she had ever seen, and then sang to her so sweetly that Graciosa's dreams were all of mermaids and cool sea waves, and caverns in which she wandered with personette. But when she woke up again, her first thought was that, delightful as this very palace seemed to her, she could not stay in it, but must go back to her father. When she had been dressed by the twenty-four maidens in a charming robe which the queen had sent for her, and in which she looked prettier than ever, prince personette came to see her, and was bitterly disappointed when she told him what she had been thinking. He begged her to consider again how unhappy the wicked queen would make her, and how, if she would but marry him, all the fairy palace would be hers, and his one thought would be to please her. But in spite of everything he could say, the princess was quite determined to go back, though he at last persuaded her to stay eight days, which were so full of pleasure and amusement that they passed like a few hours. On the last day, Graciosa, who had often felt anxious to know what was going on in her father's palace, said to personette that she was sure that he could find out for her, if he would what reason the queen had given her father for her sudden disappearance. Personette at first offered to send his courier to find out, but the princess said, Oh, isn't there a quicker way of knowing than that? Very well, said personette, you shall see for yourself. So up they went together to the top of a very high tower, which, like the rest of the castle, was built entirely of rock crystal. There the prince held Graciosa's hand in his, and made her put the tip of her little finger into her mouth, and looked toward the town, and immediately she saw the wicked queen go to the king, and heard her say to him, That miserable princess is dead, and no great loss either, I have ordered that she shall be buried at once. And then the princess saw how she dressed up a log of wood, and had it buried, and how the old king cried, and all the people murmured that the queen had killed Graciosa with her cruelties, and that she ought to have her head cut off. When the princess saw that the king was so sorry for her pretended death that he could neither eat nor drink, she cried, Ah, personette, take me back quickly, if you love me. And so, though he did not want to at all, he was obliged to promise that he would let her go. You may not regret me, princess, he said sadly, for I fear that you do not love me well enough, but I foresee that you will more than once regret that you left this fairy palace, where we have been so happy. But in spite of all he could say, she bade farewell to the queen, his mother, and prepared to set out. So personette, very unwillingly, brought the little sledge with the stags, and she mounted beside him. But they had hardly gone twenty yards, when a tremendous noise behind her made Graciosa look back, and she saw the palace of crystal fly into a million splinters, like the spray of a fountain, and vanish. Oh, personette, she cried, what has happened? The palace is gone! Yes, he answered, my palace is a thing of the past. You will see it again, but not until you have been buried. Now you are angry with me, said Graciosa, in her most coaxing voice, though after all I am more to be pity than you are. When they got near the palace, the prince made the sledge and themselves invisible, so that the princess got in unobserved, and ran up to the great hall where the king was sitting all by himself. At first he was very much startled by Graciosa's sudden appearance, but she told him how the queen had left her out in the forest, and how she had caused a log of wood to be buried. The king, who did not know what to think, sent quickly and had it dug up, and sure enough it was as the princess had said. Then he caressed Graciosa and made her sit down to supper with him, and they were as happy as possible. But someone, had by this time, told the wicked queen that Graciosa had come back, and was at supper with the king, and in she flew in a terrible fury. The poor old king quite trembled before her, and when she declared that Graciosa was not the princess at all, but a wicked impostor, and that if the king did not give her up at once she would go back to her own castle and never see him again, he had not a word to say, and really seemed to believe that it was not Graciosa after all. So the queen in great triumph sent for her waiting women, who dragged the unhappy princess away and shut her up in a garret. They took away all her jewels and her pretty dress, and gave her a rough cotton frock, wooden shoes, and a little cloth cap. There was some straw in a corner, which was all she had for a bed, and they gave her a very little bit of black bread to eat. In this miserable plight, Graciosa did indeed regret the fairy palace, and she would have called Personette to her aid, only she felt sure he was still vexed with her for leaving him, and thought that she could not expect him to come. Meanwhile, the queen had sent for an old fairy, as malicious as herself, and said to her, You must find some task for this fine princess, which she cannot possibly do, for I mean to punish her, and if she does not do what I order, then she will not be able to say that I am unjust. So the old fairy said she would think it over, and come again the next day. When she returned, she brought with her a skein of thread, three times as big as herself. It was so fine that a breath of air would break it, and so tangled that it was impossible to see the beginning or the end of it. The queen sent for Graciosa, and said to her, Do you see this skein? Set your clumsy fingers to work upon it, for I must have it disentangled by sunset, and if you break a single thread it will be the worst for you. So saying she left her, locking the door behind her with three keys. The princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible skein. If she did but turn it over to see where to begin, she broke a thousand threads, and not one could she disentangle. At last she threw it in the middle of the floor, crying, Oh, personette, this fatal skein will be the death of me if you will not forgive me and help me once more. And immediately in came personette, as easily as if he had all the keys in his own possession. Here I am, princess, as much as ever at your service, said he, though really you are not very kind to me. Then he just stroked the skein with his wand, and all the broken threads joined themselves together, and the whole skein wound itself smoothly off in the most surprising manner. And the prince, turning to Graciosa, asked if there was nothing else that she wished him to do for her, and if the time would never come when she would wish for him for his own sake. Don't be vexed with me, personette, she said, I am unhappy enough without that. But why should you be unhappy, my princess, cried he, only come with me, and we shall be as happy as the day is long together. But suppose you get tired of me, said Graciosa. The prince was so grieved at this want of confidence that he left her without another word. The wicked queen was in such a hurry to punish Graciosa that she thought the sun would never set, and indeed it was before the appointed time that she came with her four fairies. And as she fitted the three keys into the lock, she said, I'll venture to say that the idle minx has not done anything at all. She prefers to sit with her hands before her to keep them white. But as soon as she entered, Graciosa presented her with the ball of thread in perfect order, so that she had no fault to find, and could only pretend to discover that it was soiled, for which imaginary fault she gave Graciosa a blow on each cheek that made her white and pink skin turn green and yellow. And then she sent her back to be locked into the garret once more. Then the queen sent for the fairy again, and scolded her furiously, don't make such a mistake again, find me something that will be quite impossible for her to do, she said. So the next day the fairy appeared with a huge barrel full of the feathers of all sorts of birds. There were feathers from nightingales, canaries, goldfinches, linets, tumtits, parrots, owls, sparrows, doves, ostriches, bustards, peacocks, larks, partridges, and every sort you can think of. These feathers were all mixed up in such confusion that the birds themselves could not have chosen out their own. Here, said the fairy, is a little task which will take all your prisoner's skill and patience to accomplish. Tell her to pick out and lay in a separate heap the feathers of each bird. She would need to be an enchanter to do it. The queen was more than delighted at the thought of the despair this task would cause the princess. She sent for her, and with the same threats as before, locked her up with the three keys, ordering that all the feathers should be sorted by sunset. Gracioso set to work at once, but before she had taken out a dozen feathers she found that it was a perfectly impossible task to know one from another. Ah, well, she sighed, the queen wishes to kill me, and if I must die I must. I cannot ask Personette to help me again, for if he really loved me he would not wait till I called him. He would come without that. I am here, my Graciosa, cried Personette, springing out of the barrel where he had been hiding. How can you still doubt that I love you with all my heart? Then he gave three strokes of his wand upon the barrel, and all the feathers flew out in a cloud and settled down in neat little heaps all round the room. What should I do without you, Personette? said Graciosa gratefully. But still she could not quite make up her mind to go with him and leave her father's kingdom forever, so she begged him to give her more time to think of it, and he had to go away disappointed once more. When the wicked queen came at sunset she was amazed and infuriated to find the task done. However, she complained that the heaps of feathers were badly arranged, and for that the princess was beaten and sent back to her garret. Then the queen sent for the ferry once more and scolded her until she was fairly terrified, and promised to go home and think of another task for Graciosa worse than either of the others. At the end of three days she came again, bringing with her a box. Tell your slave, said she, to carry this wherever you please, but on no account to open it. She will not be able to help doing so, and then you will be quite satisfied with the result. So the queen came to Graciosa and said, Carry this box to my castle, and place it upon the table in my own room, but I forbid you, on pain of death, to look at what it contains. Graciosa set out, wearing her little cap and wooden shoes and the old cotton frock, and even in this disguise she was so beautiful that all the passers-by wondered who she could be. She had not gone far before the heat of the sun and the weight of the box tired her so much that she sat down to rest in the shade of a little wood which lay on one side of a green meadow. She was carefully holding the box upon her lap when she suddenly felt the greatest desire to open it. What could possibly happen if I did, she said to herself. I should not take anything out, I should only just see what was there. And without further hesitation she lifted the cover. Instantly out came swarms of little men and women, no taller than her finger, and scattered themselves all over the meadow, singing and dancing and playing the merriest games so that at first Graciosa was delighted and watched them with much amusement. But presently, when she was rested and wished to go on her way, she found that, do what she would, she could not get them back into their box. If she chased them in the meadows they fled into the wood, and if she pursued them into the wood they dodged around trees and behind sprigs of moss, and with peels of elfin laughter, scampered back again into the meadow. At last, weary and terrified, she sat down and cried. It is my own fault, she said sadly, personette, if you can still care for such an imprudent princess, please come and help me once more. Immediately personette stood before her. Ah, princess, he said, but for the wicked queen I fear you would never think of me at all. Indeed I should, said Graciosa, I am not so ungrateful as you think. Only wait a little, and I believe I shall love you quite dearly. That was pleased at this, and with one stroke of his wand compelled all the willful little people to come back to their places in the box, and then, rendering the princess invisible, he took her with him in his chariot to the castle. When the princess presented herself at the door, and said that the queen had ordered her to place the box in her own room, the governor laughed heartily at the idea. No, no, my little shepherdess, said he, that is not the place for you. No wooden shoes have ever been over that floor yet. Then Graciosa begged him to give her a written message telling the queen that he had refused to admit her. This he did, and she went back to personette, who was waiting for her, and they set out together for the palace. You may imagine that they did not go the shortest way, but the princess did not find it too long, and before they parted she had promised that if the queen was still cruel to her and tried again to play her any spiteful trick she would leave her and come to personette forever. When the queen saw her returning she fell upon the ferry whom she had kept with her and pulled her hair and scratched her face and would really have killed her if a ferry could be killed. And when the princess presented the letter and the box she threw them both upon the fire without opening them, and looked very much as if she would like to throw the princess after them. However, what she really did do was to have a great hole as deep as a well dug in her garden, and the top of it covered with a flat stone. Then she went and walked near it and said to Graciosa and all her ladies who were with her, I am told that a great treasure lies under that stone. Let us see if we can lift it. So they all began to push and pull at it, and Graciosa among the others, which was just what the queen wanted, for as soon as the stone was lifted high enough she gave the princess a push which sent her down to the bottom of the well, and then the stone was let fall again, and there she was, a prisoner. Graciosa felt that now indeed she was hopelessly lost. Surely not even personette could find her in the heart of the earth. This is like being buried alive, she said with a shudder, oh personette, if you only knew how I am suffering for my want of trust in you. But how could I be sure that you would not be like other men and tire of me from the moment you were sure I loved you? As she spoke she suddenly saw a little door opened, and the sunshine blazed into the dismal well. Graciosa did not hesitate an instant, but passed through into a charming garden. Flowers and fruit grew on every side, fountains splashed, and birds sang in the branches overhead, and when she reached a great avenue of trees, and looked up to see where it would lead her, she found herself close to the palace of crystal. Yes, there was no mistaking it, and the queen and personette were coming to meet her. Ah, princess, said the queen, don't keep this poor personette in suspense any longer. You little guess the anxiety he has suffered while you were in the power of that miserable grumbly. The princess kissed her gratefully, and promised to do as she wished in everything, and holding out her hand to personette with a smile, she said, Do you remember telling me that I should not see your palace again until I had been buried? I wonder if you guessed that. When that happened, I should tell you that I love you with all my heart, and will marry you whenever you like. Prince personette joyfully took the hand that was given him, and for fear the princess should change her mind, the wedding was held at once with the greatest splendor, and Graciosa and personette lived happily ever after. End of Graciosa and personette. Story 24 of the Fairy Ring. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Reading by Lars Rolander. The Fairy Ring, edited by Kate Douglas Wigan and Nora Archibald Smith. Story 24, Drack the Fairy. In the last century, there lived in the little town of Gaelach in Langedoc, a young merchant who, having arrived at an age when he wished to settle down in life, sought a wife. Providing she was sweet-tempered, witty, rich, pretty, and of good family, he was not particular about the rest. For Michael knew that he must be moderate in his desires. Unhappily he could not see in Gaelach one who appeared worthy of his choice. All the young girls had some known fault, not to mention those which were not known. At length he was told of a young lady of Lavour, endowed with innumerable good qualities, and a dowry of twenty thousand crowns. This sum was exactly that required by Michael to establish himself in business, so he instantly fell in love with the young lady of Lavour. He obtained an introduction to the family, who liked his appearance and gave him a good reception. But the young heiress had many suitors, from whom she hesitated to make a definite choice. After several discussions it was decided by her parents that the contending lovers should be brought together at a ball, and after having compared them a choice should be made. On the appointed day Michael set out for Lavour. His portmanteau was packed with his finest clothes, an apple-green coat, a lavender vest, greaches of black velvet, silk stockings with silver trees, buckled shoes, powder box, and a satin ribbon for his queue. His horse was harnessed with gate trappings. Furthermore the prudent traveller not having a pistol to put in his holsters had slipped in a little bottle of wine and several slices of almond cake, in order to have something at hand to keep his carriage up. For in reality now that the day had come he was in a very anxious state, and when he saw in the distance the church of Lavour he felt quite taken aback. He slackened the pace of his horse, then dismounted, and in order to reflect upon what he should do at the ball he entered a little wood and sat down on the turf. He drew from his holsters to keep him company the almond cake and the bottle. The latter he placed between his knees so that without thinking of it he varied his reflections by sips of wine and mouthfuls of cake. These distractions somewhat enlivened him and gave him confidence, so much so that he began to discover in himself a number of virtues and excellences which could not fail to ensure him the victory. The sun having disappeared from the horizon he was about to pursue his journey when he heard a sound behind him among the leaves as of a multitude of little footsteps trampling the grass in tune to the music of a flute and cymbals. Astonished he turned around and by the light of the first stars he perceived a troupe of fairies headed by the king Tambourinet. In the rear turning over and over like a wheel was the buffoon of the little people drug a fairy. The fairies surrounded the traveller and gave him a thousand welcomes and good wishes. Michael, who had drunk too freely not to be brave, welcomed them as old acquaintances and seeing their little eyes fixed upon the cake he began to crumble and throw it them as one would to the birds. In spite of their numbers each one had his crumb with the exception of drake who arrived when everyone had finished. Tambourinet next asked what was in the bottle and passed it from hand to hand till it reached the buffoon who finding it empty threw it away. Michael burst out laughing. That is just as my little man said he to the fairy for those who arrived late there remains nothing but regret. I will make you remember what you have just said. cried drake in anger. And how, asked the traveller ironically, do you think now you are big enough to revenge yourself? Drake disappeared without answering and Michael after taking leave of Tambourinet mounted his horse again. He had not gone a hundred paces when the saddle turned and threw him roughly to the ground. He rose a little stunned, re-buckled the straps and mounted his horse again. A little farther on he was going over a bridge the right stirrup bent slightly and he found himself thrown in the middle of the rivulet. He got out again in a very bad humour and fell the third time over the pebbles in the road hurting himself so much that he could hardly proceed. He began to think if he persisted in riding in the saddle he would be unable to present himself at all to the family of the young lady so he decided to ride his horse bareback and take the saddle upon his shoulder. In this manner he made his entry into Lavour amid the loud laughter of the people who were sitting at their doors. Laugh. Laugh your great stupid, murmured Michael. Is it very marvellous that a man should carry his saddle when it will not carry him? At length he reached the inn where he alighted and asked for a room in which to change his travelling clothes. Having obtained a chamber he proceeded with much care to open his portmanteau and lay out carefully on the bed the articles for his toilet. His first consideration was whether he should powder his hair white or yellow. Having decided it should be white he seized his swan down powder puff and commenced the operation on the right side but at the moment when he had finished that side he saw that an invisible hand had powdered the other side yellow so that his head had the appearance of a half peeled lemon. Michael stupefied hasten to mix the powder with a comb and finding himself too pressed for time to seek to think out the reason of his mischance. He was always a slow thinker, stretched out his hand toward the reel on which the satin for his cue was wound. The reel escaped from his fingers and fell to the ground. Michael went to pick it up but it seemed to roll before him. Twenty times he was about to seize it and twenty times his impatient hands missed it. One would have said he looked like a kitten playing with a reel. At length seeing that time was going he lost patience and resigned himself to wear his old ribbon. He now hastened to put on his Morocco shoes. He buckled the right then having finished the left he stopped to admire them but as he did so the right buckle fell to the ground. He replaced it but no sooner had he done so than the left followed suit. He had hardly put that right before the other one claimed his attention again in the same manner as before. He proceeded thus for some time without being able to get both buckles fastened together. Furious he finished by putting on his traveling boots and was about to take his velvet breeches when immediately he approached the bed. Low the breeches began of their own accord to walk about the room. Michael petrified stood mute with his arm extended contemplating with the frightened air this incongruous dance. But you may guess how he looked when he saw the left coat and hat joined the breeches at their respective places and form a sort of counterfeit of himself which commenced to walk about and parody his attitudes. Pale with fear he drew back to the window but at this moment the Michael-esque figure turned toward him and he so under the cocked hat the grimacing face of drac the fairy. Michael uttered a cry. It is you you villain is it? I'll make you repent of your insolence if you don't instantly give me back my clothes. So saying he rushed to take them but the fairy turning sharply around ran to the other side of the room. Michael was beside himself with anger and impatience and rushed again toward the fairy who this time passed between his legs and rushed out on to the staircase. Michael pursued him angrily up four flights of stairs till they arrived at the garret where the fairy dodged round and round and then skipped out of the window. Michael exasperated took the same route. The malicious fairy led him from roof to roof dragging the velvet breeches the vest and coat in all the gutters to Michael's despair. At length after perigrenation of an hour or two across this Pyrenees of the cats and swallows drac gained a high chimney at the foot of which his pursuer was forced to stop. Drac leaning over toward Michael was out of breath and discouraged said, You see my good friend you have forced me to spoil your baldress but happily I see underneath me the copper of a lawndress where everything can be put right for you. With these words Drac shook the velvet breeches over the chimney pot. What are you doing Rascal? cried Michael. I am sending your dress to the wash, said the fairy, and so saying the vest, coat and hat followed the breeches into the smoking gulf. The jangalan sat down upon the road with a cry of despair but rising immediately said with resolution, Well I'll go to the ball in my travelling dress. Hark! interrupted the fairy. The sound of a bell rang out from a neighbouring steeple. Midnight struck. Michael counted the twelve strokes and could not restrain a cry. It was the hour designated by the parents when they would proclaim the suitors who had presented themselves at the ball their daughter's choice for a husband. He wrung his hands in despair. Unhappy man that I am, he cried, When I arrive all will be over. She and her parents will laugh at me. And that would be justice my big man, replied Drac with a pointed snare, For you have said yourself, for those who arrive late there remains nothing but regret. This time will serve you I hope as a lesson and prevent you another time from laughing at the feeble, for from henceforth you will know that the smallest are big enough to avenge themselves. End of Drac the Fairy Read by Lars Rolander But tiny as he was he knew a thing or two. He was a great worker and laid up every cent that he earned and long before he was half as tall as a grey goose he had saved a hundred dollars in gold. The king of the country who never did anything but spend money heard that Drac's bill had some gold pieces and he made haste to borrow them. How very kind and gracious he was until he heard the little yellow coins jingle in his pocket. And how proud it made Drac's bill feel to have it said that he had lent money to the king. A year went by, two years, three years, and the king seemed to have forgotten him. He did not even offer to pay Drac's bill the interest and the little fellow was very uneasy lest he should lose all his money. At last he made up his mind that he would go and see the king and tell him that he needed the gold pieces very much. So early one morning Drac's bill, as spruce and fresh as a young robin, went down the high road towards the king's palace singing Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? He had not gone far when he met friend Fox coming home from his rounds among the farm yards. Good morning, my neighbour, said friend Fox, where are you going so early in the day? I'm going to the king to ask him to pay me what he owes me. Oh, take me with you. One can't have too many friends, thought Drac's bill. Then he said, certainly I will take you, but you walk on four legs, and you will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, creep under my tongue, and I will carry you. Friend Fox thanked him very kindly, made himself very small, and was out of sight like a letter in a letterbox. Then Drac's bill was off again, all spruce and fresh as a spring morning and still singing Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? He had not gone far when he met his lady friend Ladder leasing against her wall. Good morning, ducky darling, said the lady friend, wither away so bold and gay this fine new day. I'm going to the king to ask him to pay me what he owes me. Oh, take me with you. One can't have too many friends, thought Drac's bill. Then he said, certainly I will take you, but you have such long wooden legs that you will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, creep under my tongue, and I will carry you. The latter thanked him, made herself very small, and went to keep company with friend Fox. Then Drac's bill was off again, spruce and fresh as any dapper little dandy and singing Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? He had not gone far when he met his sweet heart, laughing river, wandering quietly in the sunshine. Good morning, my spoon-bill, she said, wither do you go so happy and slow while the soft breezes blow. I'm going to the king, you know, for he owes me money, and I want him to pay me back. Oh, take me with you. One can't have too many friends, thought Drac's bill. Then he said, certainly I will take you, but you always sleep while you run, and you will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, creep under my tongue, and I will carry you. The river thanked him very kindly, and then, glue, glue, glue, she went to take her place between friend Fox and friend Ladder. Then Drac's bill was off again, spruce and fresh as a busy bee, and singing, quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? A little farther on he met neighbor Wasp Nest, taking his wasps out for some fresh air. Good morning, neighbor Bill, said Wasp Nest, wither do we run so full of fun in the bright warm sun. Oh, don't you know that the king owes me money? And I am going down to see him, and make him pay me, answered Drac's bill. Oh, take us with you. One can't have too many friends, thought Drac's bill. Then he said, certainly I will take you, but there are so many of you that you will soon get tired. So make yourself quite small, get into my mouth, creep under my tongue, and I will carry you. Neighbor Wasp Nest thanked him very kindly, and then buzz, buzz, buzz, file right, march. There wasn't much more room, but by getting close together, everybody was made quite comfortable. And then Drac's bill went on singing. In the afternoon, he came to the great city where the king lived, and as he marched straight up High Street, he sang as loud as he could, quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? When he came to the king's palace, he climbed up the step, and then he stood on tiptoe and knocked at the door, talk, talk, talk. Who's there? asked the doorkeeper, looking out through the keyhole. Teas eye, Drac's bill, I want to speak with the king. Speak with the king, nonsense. That is easier said than done. The king is in the parlor, counting out his money. That is just what I want to see him do, said Drac's bill, tell him I am here, and then he will know my business. The doorkeeper went into the parlor to speak with the king, but he was not there. He was in the kitchen, just sitting down to dinner with a white napkin around his neck. Good, good, said the king. I know the rascal, fetch him in and put him with the turkeys and the chickens. The doorkeeper went back to the door. Walk in, sir. Good, said Drac's bill to himself. Now I can see how the folks eat at the king's table. This way, this way, said the doorkeeper. Now step through that gate. There you are. What? in the poultry yard? How? What? How vexed the little fellow was and no wonder. Just wait, he said at last. I'll show them a thing or two. Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? But turkeys and chickens are queer things, as you know, and think themselves a good deal better than other folks. When they saw what a funny little fellow had come among them, and when they heard him singing his queer song, they began to ask one another, Who is he? What is he doing here? Then they all rushed upon him, and if he had not had his wits about him, they would have pecked him to death in no time. But as good luck would have it, he remembered his friend Fox, and he cried out, Fox, friend Fox, from your hiding place, come quick, or sad will be my case. Then friend Fox, who was only waiting for these words, leaped out from his hiding place as big as life, and as happy as a sunflower, and he threw himself on the wicked fowls, and snip, snap, crish, crash, he tore them in pieces. And at the end of five minutes, not one of them was left alive. And Drake's bill, spruce and fresh as ever, began to sing again, Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? But the king was very angry, when the poultry woman, and the cook, and the doorkeeper, all rushed into the kitchen where he was eating, and holed him back. He ordered them to seize this naughty little Drake's bill, and throw him into the well, and thus make an end of him. I am lost, I am lost, cried Drake's bill, as he fell fluttering down into the deep dark hole. I can never climb out of this place. Then he happened to think of his lady friend Ladder, and he sang, Ladder, Ladder, from beneath my tongue, come quick, or soon my song will be sung. Friend Ladder, who had only been waiting for these words, leaped quickly out as tall as a flagpole, and as charming as a walking stick, and she stood with her feet at the bottom of the well, and her two arms resting upon the top, and Drake's bill climbed nimbly on her back, and hip-hop-hop, how soon he was up and singing louder than ever, quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back? The king, who was still at the table, heard him singing, and the song made him so angry that he almost choked. Can't anybody make that fellow hush? He cried. Then he ordered his men to build a great fire, and when it was hot to throw Drake's bill into it, and burn him up for a wicked wizard. But Drake's bill was not much afraid this time. He remembered his sweetheart river. Just when the flames were the highest, and the captain of the king's men was going to toss him into them, he sang out, River, river, outward flow, or in the fire I must go. Then friend river, who had only been waiting for these words, flowed quickly out as strong as a storm, and as swift as the wind, and she put out the fire and drowned all the people and kindled it, and glup glup glup she flowed into the king's palace and stood four feet deep in the great hall, and Drake's bill spruce and fresh as ever, swam hither and tither singing, quack quack quack when shall I get my money back. Of course, after all this had happened, the king was more angry than he had ever been before, and when he saw Drake's bill swing coolly while he had to stand on the table to keep his feet dry, he could hardly hold himself. Bring the fellow here and I'll finish him with the carving knife. Bring him here quick, he cried. Two servants rushed out and seized Drake's bill very rudely. They dragged him towards the king, who was standing with drawn carving knife. The king's brave men, with swords in their hands, were all around him. Over with me now, said Drake's bill, I don't see how I can live through this. But just then he thought of his neighbor Wasp Nest, and he cried out, Wasp Nest, Wasp Nest, hither fly, or Drake's bill soon will have to die. Then Wasp Nest, who had been waiting for these words, began to wake up his wasps and things changed very quickly. Buzz buzz buzz charge! And the wasps rushed out and threw themselves upon the king and his brave men, and stung them so badly that they ran and jumped right out from the windows, and nobody in the palace ever saw them again. As for Drake's bill, he could only sit still and wonder what was going to happen next. But after a while he remembered his money and began to sing as before. Then, as the house was very still, he thought that he might as well look around a little while. Perhaps he would find his hundred yellow pieces of gold. It was of no use, however. He peeped into all the corners and opened all the drawers. There was not a dollar in the house. The king had spent everything. By and by Drake's bill found his way into the room where the king's throne stood. And, as he was very tired, he sat down to rest amongst the cushions of velvet and gold. When the people saw the king and his brave men running away from the wasps, they felt sure that they would never come back. So they crowded into the palace to see what was the matter. And the only person they found was little Drake's bill, sitting by himself on the throne. Then they all shouted, The king is dead. Long live the king. How glad will be to be ruled by this thing. And one of them ran and fetched the golden crown. And they put it on Drake's bill's head and hailed him as king. And Drake's bill, who had made up his mind not to be surprised at anything, sat very still and took it all as a matter of course. He doesn't look much like a king, whispered a few idle fellows, but they were soon driven out of the hall and made to understand that it was wrong to even think such words. He will be the best king we have ever had, said others. And some who had known him before said, A Drake's bill is better any day than a king who does nothing but spend our money. And that is the way in which our little Drake's bill became king. When he had been crowned and the people had finished shouting, and a speech from the throne. Ladies and gentlemen, he said, I am very hungry. Let us all go to supper. End of Drake's bill and his friends. Recording by Lukas Handley, Wasaga Beach. Story 26 of the Ferry Ring This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Lars Rolander The Ferry Ring Edited by Kate Douglas Wiggin And Nora Archibald Smith Story 26 Ricket with the Tuft Once upon a time there was a queen who had a son so ugly and mishappen that it was started for a long time whether his form was really human. A fairy who was present at his birth affirmed nevertheless that he would be worthy to be loved as he would have an excellent wit. She added moreover that by virtue or the gift she had bestowed upon him he would be able to impart equal intelligence to the one whom he loved best. All this was some consolation to the poor queen who was much distressed at having brought ugly and little monkey into the world. It is true that the child was no sooner able to speak than he said a thousand pretty things and that in all his ways there was a certain air of intelligence with which everyone was charmed. I had forgotten to say that he was born with a little tuft of hair on his head and so he came to be called Ricket with a Tuft for Ricket was the family name. About seven or eight years later the queen of a neighboring kingdom had two daughters. The elder was fairer than the day and the queen was so delighted that it was feared some harm might come to her from her great joy. The same fairy who had assisted at the birth of little Ricket was present upon this occasion and in order to moderate the joy of the queen she told her that this little princess would have no gifts of mind at all and that she would be as stupid as she was beautiful. The queen was greatly mortified on hearing this but shortly after she was even more annoyed when her second little daughter was born and proved to be extremely ugly. Do not distress yourself madam said the fairy to her. Your daughter will find compensation for she will have so much intelligence that her lack of beauty will scarcely be perceived. Heavens and it may be so replied the queen but are there no means whereby a little more understanding might be given to the elder who is so lovely. I can do nothing for her in the way of intelligence madam said the fairy but everything in the way of beauty as however there is nothing in my power I would not do to give you comfort. I will bestow on her the power of conferring beauty on any man or woman who shall please her. As these two princesses grew up their endowments also became more perfect and nothing was talked of anywhere but the beauty of the elder and the intelligence of the jungler. It is true that their defects also greatly increased with their years. The jungler became uglier every moment and the elder more stupid every day. She either made no answer when she was spoken to or else said something foolish. With this she was so clumsy that she could not even place four pieces of china on a mantel shelf without breaking one of them or drink a glass of water without spilling half of it on her dress. Notwithstanding the attraction of beauty the jungler in whatever society they might be nearly always bore away the palm from her sister. At first everyone went up to the more beautiful to gaze at and admire her but they soon left her for the clever one to listen to her many pleasant and amusing sayings and people were astonished to find that in less than a quarter of an hour the elder had not a soul near her while all the company had gathered around the jungler. The elder, though very stupid, noticed this and would have given without regret all her beauty for half the sense of her sister. Discreet as she was the queen could not help often reproaching her with her stupidity which made the poor princess ready to die of grief. One day when she had gone by herself into a wood to weep over her misfortune she saw approaching her a little man of very ugly and unpleasant appearance but magnificently dressed. It was the jung prince rickett with a tuft who, having fallen in love with her from seeing her portraits which were sent all over the world had left his father's kingdom who might have the pleasure of beholding her and speaking to her. Enchanted at meeting her thus alone he addressed her with all the respect and politeness imaginable. Having remarked after paying her the usual compliments that she was very melancholy, he said to her I cannot understand, madame, how a person as beautiful as you are can be so unhappy as you appear for although I can boast of having seen an infinite number of beautiful people I can say with truth that I have never seen one whose beauty could be compared with yours. You are pleased to say so, sir, replied the princess, and there she stopped. Beauty, continued rickett, is so great an advantage that it ought to take the place of every other and possessed of it I see nothing that can have power to afflict one. I would rather, said the princess, be as ugliest you are and have intelligence than possess the beauty I do and be as stupid as I am. There is no greater proof of intelligence, madame, than the belief that we have it not. It is the nature of that gift that the more we have the more we believe ourselves to be without it. I do not know how that may be, said the princess, but I know well enough that I am very stupid and this is the cause of the grief that is killing me. If that is all that travels you, madame, I can easily put an end to your sorrow. And how would you do so, said the princess? I have the power, madame, said rickett, with a tuft to give as much intelligence as is possible to possess to the person whom I love best. As you, madame, are that person it will depend entirely upon yourself whether or not you become gifted with this amount of intelligence provided that you are willing to marry me. The princess was stricken dumb with astonishment and replied not a word. I see, said rickett, with the tuft that this proposal troubles you. I am not surprised, but I will give you a full year to consider it. The princess had so little sense and at the same time was so anxious to have a great deal that she thought the end of the year would never come. Although she had once accepted the offer that was made her, she had no sooner promised rickett with the tuft that she would marry him that day twelve months than she felt herself quite another person from what she had previously been. She found she was able to say whatever she pleased with a readiness past belief and to say it in a clever but easy and natural manner. She immediately began a sprightly and well-sustained conversation with the tuft and was so brilliant in her talk that the prince began to think he had given her more wit than he had reserved for himself. On her return to the palace the whole court was puzzled to account for a change so sudden and extraordinary, for instead of the number of foolish things which they had accustomed to hear from her she now made as many sensible and exceedingly witty remarks. All the court was in a state of joy not to be described. The younger sister alone was not altogether pleased for having lost her superiority over her sister in the way of intelligence she now appeared by her side merely as a very unpleasing looking person. The king now began to be guided by his elder daughter's advice and at times even held his counsel in her apartments. The news of the change of affairs was spread abroad and all the young princes of the neighboring kingdoms exerted themselves to gain her affection and nearly all of them asked her hand in marriage. She found none of them however intelligent enough to please her and she listened to all of them without engaging herself to one. At length arrived a prince so rich and powerful so clever and so handsome that she could not help listening willingly to his address. Her father having perceived this told her that he left her at perfect liberty to choose a husband for herself and that she had only to make known her decision. As the more intelligence we possess the more difficulty we find in making up our mind on such matters as this she begged her father after having thanked him to allow her time to think about it. She went by chance to walk in the same wood in which she had met Rickett with a tuft in order to meditate more uninterruptedly over what she had to do. While she was walking deep in thought she heard a dull sound beneath her feet as of many persons running to and fro and busily occupied. Having listened more attentively she heard one say Bring me that saucepan another, give me that kettle another, put sound board on the fire. At the same moment the ground opened and she saw beneath her what appeared to be a large kitchen full of cooks, scullions and all sorts of servants necessary for the preparation of a magnificent banquet. There came forth a band of about twenty to thirty cooks who went and established themselves in an avenue of the wood at a very long table and who, each with the larding pin in his hand and the tail of his fur cap over his ear said to work keeping time to a harmonious song. The princess astonished at this sight asked the men for whom they were working. Madam replied the chief among them for Prince Rickett with a tuft whose marriage will take place tomorrow. The princess still more surprised than she was before and suddenly recollecting that it was just a twelve month from the day on which she had promised to marry Prince Rickett with a tuft was overcome with trouble and amazement. The reason of her not having remembered her promise was that when she made it she had been a very foolish person and since she became gifted with the new mind that the prince had given her she had forgotten all her follies. She had not taken another thirty steps when Rickett with the tuft presented himself before her gaily and splendidly attired like a prince about to be married. You see madam said he I keep my word punctually and I doubt not that you have come here to keep yours and to make me by the giving of your handy happiest of men. I confess to you frankly answered the princess that I have not yet made up my mind on that matter and that I doubt if I shall ever be able to do so in the way you wish. You astonish me madam said Rickett with a tuft. I have no doubt that I do said the princess and assuredly had I to deal with a stupid person with a man without intelligence I should feel greatly perplexed. A princess is bound by her word he would say to me and you must marry me as you have promised to do so but as the person to whom I speak is of all men in the world the one of greatest sense and understanding I'm certain he will listen to reason. You know that when I was no better than a fool I nevertheless could not decide to marry you how can you expect now that I have the mind which you have given me and which renders me much more difficult to please than before that I should take today a resolution which I could not then. If you seriously thought of marrying me you did very wrong to take away my stupidity and so enable me to see more clearly than I saw then. If a man without intelligence replied Richter the tuft who reproached you with your breach of promise might have right as you have just intimated to be treated with indulgence why would you madam that I should receive less consideration in a matter which affects the entire happiness of my life is it reasonable that persons of intellect should be in a worse position than those who have none? Can you assert this you who have so much earnestly decide to possess it but let us come to the point if you please. Setting aside my ugliness is there anything in me that pleases you? Are you dissatisfied with my birth? My understanding? My temper? Or my manners? Not in the least replied the princess I admire you in everything you have mentioned if that is so rejoined Richter the tuft I shall soon be happy as you have in your power to make me the most pleasing looking of men. How can that be done? asked the princess. It can be done said Richter the tuft if you love me sufficiently to wish that it should be and in order madam that you should have no doubt about it know that the same fairy who on the day I was born endowed me with the power to give intelligence to the person I choose gave you also the power to render hands on the man you should love and on whom you should wish to bestow this favour. If such be the fact said the princess I wish with all my heart that you should become the handsomest and most lovable prince in the world and I bestow the gift on you to the fullest extent in my power. The princess had no sooner pronounced these words than Richter the tuft appeared to her eyes of all men in the world the handsomest, the best-made and most attractive she had ever seen. There are some who assert that it was not the spell of the fairy but love alone that caused this metamorphosis. They say that the princess having reflected on the perseverance of her lover on his prudence and on all the good qualities of his heart and mind no longer saw the deformity of his body or the ugliness of his features that his hump appeared to her nothing more than a good nature shrug of his shoulders and that instead of noticing as she had done how badly he lit him she saw in him only a certain longing air which chowned her. They say also that his eyes which squinted only seemed to her the more brilliant for this and that the crookedness of his glance was to her merely expressive of his great love and finally that his great red nose had in it to her mind something martial and heroic. However this may be the princess promised on the spot to marry him provided he obtained the consent of the king her father. The king having learned that his daughter entertained a great regard for Ricket with a tuft whom he also knew to be a very clever and wise prince received him with pleasure as his son-in-law. The wedding took place the next morning as Ricket with a tuft had foreseen and according to the orders which he had given a long time before no beauty no talent has power above some indefinite charm discerned only by love. End of Ricket with a Tuft read by Lars Rolander