BLUE ROSES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 April 1926, Page 16

BLUE ROSES.

THE LAND BEYOND THE SUNSET

Once upon a time there, was a king’s daughter who was exactly like the most beautiful person you have ever seen. Of course, as slje was a princess, there was a wicked fairy, at lier christening; and she, laid this curse on the princess that if ever she wanted l anything’ really badly, and couldn’t have it, she would pine away.

Luckily the king, her father, was very rich, and the princess was very reasonable, so it was all right for a long time. But. before her 20th birthdav. the king asked her what she would like for a birthday present. Now the princess couldn’t really think of anything in the wide world what she wanted, but she felt she must ask for something, so at last she said: .“ I should like some blue roses.” Now, when the princess discovered that blue roses were not to be had, she began to want them more; she began to pine away and get thin and pale, and the king was dreadfully frightened. At last he sent out a proclamation that anyone who brought him blue roses to the palace should have his daughter and the half of his kingdom. But no one came.

Now, there was a poor knight who had- seen the princess- in a dream. He set out and travelled, questing into all the countries of the world, and wherever he went he said:

“I am seeking through the world for blue roses. Have you got any?” Most, people had never heard of such a thing, and some told him he was mad, and some just laughed at him. At last he c-ame to the Edge of the World, and there was an old man ploughing. And the knight said to him: “I am seeking through the world, and beyond the world, for blue roses. Can you tell me where to find them?”

The old man said: “Yes. You must go to the Land Beyond the Sunset, and there you will find three wise women. They will be. able to help you.” And the knight said: “Can you tell me how to get there?” And the old- man said: “Next time one of the little pink cloud's floats close to the edge, step on it, and it will carry you across. ’ ’ So; the knight said good-bye to his horse, and stepped 1 on to a pink cloud, and it carried him to the Land Bevond the Sunset. 1 ,

He went through cornfield's full of poppies till he came to a cottage- with a little green gate, and houev-suekle over the porch. And. there was the wise woman sitting in her garden, and spinning. The knight said: “Good evening, mother. ’ ’

And she answered!: “Good evening, fair so-n. What is your desire?” And he told her: “I am seeking through the world, and beyoo-d the world, for blue roses. Have,-you any..” She toldi him: “Yes; but I doubt if you will care to biiy any. You must give me a kiss for thenr, and then your beautiful gulden armour will turn to old. torn rags. ’ ’ The knight said: “Very well.”

So the wise woman to.olc him into her garden and. cut him a, rose, and he gave'her a kiss; and his golden armour turned to old torn] rags. She wrapped the rose up for him and he set out. Before he had gone a mile he thought he would take out his rose and have a look at it. And behold! it had turned bright red. He took it back to the. wise woman and asked her to give him another. But she said: “It would be no use. You must go to my sister who lives a little further on; she grows blue roses-. Perhaps she can help you.”

The knight went to the second wise woman, and he asked her if she grew bine roses. She replied: “Yes, but they are very dear. I will give von two roses, and then you must give me two kisses, and after that every step you take will be like stepping on sharp knife edges.’’ 7 The knight said: “I am willing." And it happened: .just as she had said, but before he had; gone half a mile the roses turned yellow. But when he came back the wise woman said: “The only thing you can do is to go to my sister, who lives a long way farther on.’’ It was nearly dark when lie reached the third- cottage. And when the wise woman saw him come limping down the road, she ran out of her little green gate and said: “Mr poor dear, what is the matter?”' The knight said, very haltingly: “I am seeking . . through the world and beyond! the world . for blue roses. Have you* . . gor any?” And she told, him: “You must give me three kisses, and then, the light of your two eyes will go out v and you will be quite bind. And even then I han’t promise you that the roses will stay blue.” He asked her: “How shall I fiud mv way back.” and she said: “I will give you a little dog who knows the wav.” The knight thought for a long time, and at last he said: “Be it so.” and lie gave the wise woman the three kisses, and the wise .womqn. gave him the roses, and she wrapped them up in three layers- of silver paper because she was sorry for him, for ho could no longer see. And she gave him a little dog on a silver cord and wished him God-speed. The dog led; the knight bncj: across the sunset andi through all the- countries of the world. S'o they, begged their way back till they came to the gate of the king’s palace. The knight was so ragged that the king’s sentinels refused to let him in. But the little dog ran through the courtyard and the gardens and never stopped until he came to the princess. The princess was very fond of d.ogs, and she followed him fo the palace gate, and asked the sentinels what was the matter. They said: ‘['There is a beggar man at the gates, princess, who would speak to your highness.” The knight came in to the great conrtvardf and dropped on one knee before the princess and offered the roses. She took them and unwrapped them, and/ there were three faded white roses.

She looked at them, and she looked at the knight, a.nd, she was so dreadfully sorry that lie should have taken all that trouble for nothing, and she forgot everything else. Before all the Court she put/the rose? in front of her dress and- she said: “Look at my beautiful blue roses.” And the Court was too polite to contradict. Then she went to the knight as he knelt and said: “Thank you ever so much. They are the most beautifii.l roses in the world.” Audi she- kissed him on the forehead. ’

The knight sprang up, and of course he wasn’t blind or lame any more. And he took the princess in his arms and kissed her. Ho. never even looked at the roses.

There was great rejoicing and a great feast, and a dance. As the princess and the knight were dancing down the great hall, the princess happened to catch sight o? herself in a. mirror, and she saw that she was wearing three blue roses.