LUCY'S FAIRY STORY.

Bush Advocate, Volume VII, Issue 647, 9 July 1892, Page 5

LUCY'S FAIRY STORY.

Once upon a time there was a young princess. Shi; was vtry beautiful and very clever aud all she wanted was to learn magic. She wished to become ah clever ua her fairy godmother. But her godmother refused to help her. ''What is tho use, 1' «"<> said, "of my gifts at your christening if you want something more:-" which was hardly generous of the godmother, was it 'i „ Tlio princess was not discouraged. All (lay long she studied ami studied. One day the priucess was sitting in her room. Jfc was a bright morning, but tho room was dim, for tho princess said the sunshine distracted her. Just at this time sho had come to a certain spell in her works of magic that sho could not make out in tha le-sst. Sho sat thinking it over and looking at herself in a tall mirror. She was a very stately princess. Her black hair reached below her waist. Bho wore a golden crown and a dark-blue eilk robe. Over this was llung a crimson velvet mantle trimmed with royal ermine. There wero a great many rings on her beautiful wliito hands and sho wore a golden chain about her neck. Her eyes were dark and large. "I cannot do it," she excUimnd suddenly, and although she was jt princess she was very huniau after all, for toars stood in her eyes. " Lot me liolp you," said the s-vveetest voica imaginable, and there floated into the room a graceful little figure, so dazzling]}* bright that all the sunshine seemed to come in with her. Her curly hair was golden and her eyes were deepest blue. She wore c, soft, white, "Jingin;^ frowu, an<l her pretty foot ami arms were l)Aie Ttound her head siie wore n wreath of wild roses. i "lam a young fairy," sh« continued, and her voica was voiy sn-eel, " I knuw just what you want aud I have coineti-j make an ofTer to you. I will givu what your godmother refused." "But why should you ilo this for mo?" said the princosp, who was more used to granting than reoeivin? favours. '• (Jan I not make you some return Y-' The young fairy smiled, and came nearer to the princess. "I will give you my magic power aud my silver wand," said she, "on one condition— that you let me take your place in the palace for twelve days." " Agreed," cried the princess eagerly. The fairy fook up her abode iv the palace and i the princess wont away to a lonely cive with the faifyfs magic power and the fairy's wand. She was 1 earning all that sho wanted to know and she was hiippy. The day after the princess left the palace a handsorao young prince rode up to tho gates on a snow-white charger. Hia auburn hair fell over his shoulders aud his eyes were grey. Ho wo known as the bravest prince in tho kingdom. Tne father and mother of the princess, the king and queen, had been enchanted for the time. They thought tho fairy was their daughter and all tho court thought so, too. So they received tno prince royally and gave ] a grand banquet in his honour. The little tatty decked herself in tho princess's jewels awl twined diamonds in her yellow curls. But all this time, while tha feasting and merry-making went on in the palace, tho real princess was dwelling in her lonely cave learning magic, and oontent to pass her life there if at the end ehe could become as clever as a real fairy. To her the twelve days passed all too quickly. When tho thirteenth came she changed her wand into a fiying chariot aud soon arrived at her own castle. She passed through tho great entrance and walked along the hall to her own room. 2fo one of all her people saw or recognized her. Suddenly the beautiful fairy ran out to meet her. ;• Well, shall wo change back once more ■"' said the princess. "Certainly uot,'' said the fairy. "I have made you apresenfcof my power and my wand: you may take my place in Fairyland Court." "But—but"—said tho princess in surprise and dismay. "Oh!" continued the fairy, with a rippling laugh, "I knew all this would come to pass. I knew the prince would come to the castle and yesterday —l married him '." And so tho princess had to go away. She didn't mind it much after all, for she found Fairyland a pleasant home, and she soqn became | noted as one of the wisest and most beautiful of fairies. The handsome prince and tho beautiful I fairy ? Oh, they lived happily, and in a year I became the king and queen of the country. I Theu the fairy queen wont to the princess aud offered to exchange again; "I have wronged | you,"she said; "the prince is willing to live I with me here. Go back to your kingdom." But the princess only smiiied. "I have no wish to go back," she said; "I am happier hero. You may liavo the kingdom." Then she added, srailling once more: 41 But I'm glad you consulted me about it this time!" Lucy Wunusa,