CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9560, 11 July 1894, Page 3

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

THE RESCUE OF THE PRINCESS.

There was once a poor wood-cutter who lived in the forest, like the wood-cutters in all fairy tales. They usually live there in a small hut with their wives or their small children. -

This wood-cutter had no wife, but he had wo little sons. They were affectionate,

;ood children, and helped him as well as

their strength permitted. ;.' . , " I do not know what I should do if it were not for the help of my boys," the wood-cutter often said, proudly. The older lad was a sturdy, independent fellow. He grew up tall and handsome. The younger boy was gentle and amiable. He waited upon his father in little things, while the older "was able fco do severer

tasks. And, as often happens, while the father was proud of the older boy, it was the younger one he loved the more. But at last the poor old wood -cutter died, and left the two little boys to take care of themselves. '..'

" Stay here in the forest a while,'" he had told them ; " and when you get too big for the forest, go out into the world and seek your fortunes, You, Raoul, must always do the harder work, because you are strong. And you, Amos, must always love people and let others take care of you." So the two boys lived alone in the forest, and grew to be large and strong. Raoul cub the wood and took care of the house, and Amos listened to the birds singing in tho trees, and welcomed his brother when he came home fro'iri work.

Now, the prince of the country in which these two ■ lads lived had a beautiful daughter, and, as is usual in fairy stories, a terrible ogre came along one day while the princess was playing near her father's palace, and carried her off to his home in the mountains. So the prince made a proclamation bo the effect that any brave man who would go and rescue the princess should have any rewards he might like to ask, and the half.of the kingdom. Great knights came from far and near to kill the ogre and bring the Princess back to her father. \\ ith trumpets and great banners and trains of followers they came and said it would take only about five minutes for such stout fellows as they were to kill that old ogre. "He is a very terrible ogre," said the prince.

"No matter," the knight would reply. "I am the bravest knight in the world." For all these fellows thought themselves the bravest knights in the world. " Perhaps the ogre will kill you," said the prince. "No danger at all," laughed the bold knight who was offering his services. So the knight would start oat against the enemy with great preparations and many promises to bring back the ogre's head in his pocket. Well, usually that would be the last seen of the knight. People never knew what became of the knights who disappeared in this mysterious way. Whether the bold fighters got frightened when they saw the ogre, and ran away as fast as they could, never daring to come back to the country again, or whether the ogre killed them and ate them up for his supper, nobody ever knew. Certain it is that they disappeared, and the prince had to send out his proclamation again and again to all brave knights that he would give a great reward if they would kill the old ogre for him and release the beautiful princess. One day, when Raoul came from the town, ho told Amos the wonderful story of the princess, and of how brave knights had so far failed to rescue her. " I have a good mind to try to rescue the princess myself," added Raoul. " You are not such a bold fighter as the knights are," said Amos, laughing. "No matter," said Raoul. It would be a great thing to fight the ogre. , I think i will try it." Amos only laughed at him, and told him to eat his supper. But Raoul was not satisfied. He dreamed about the ogre day and night. One day, as he was cutting wood in the forest, an old man appeared to him and said:

"I am starving. Give me something to eat."

So Raoul gave him whatever he had to eat. Ib was all he had for himself, and the old man ate it and said : " I have something to. give you in return. Here is a little golden ball.' When you'are in need toss this in the air, and I will help you."

Raoul took the ball and promised. After that, just as always happens in fairy tales, the old man appeared for two days more with the same demand. And he gave the same reward when Raoul had granted what he asked. When Ruoul had received the three golden balls, he said to Amos one day : " I think I will go and fight that ogre and rescue the princess. I think I am ready." " Well," answered Amos, "I am ready to stay at home and keep the house until you come back."

So Raoul took his father's axe, and his three golden balls, and went out to fight the ogre and rescue the princess. When the poor wood-cutter reached the palace and offered to fight the ogre, all the people at the prince's court laughed at him. But Raoul .was not discouraged. He set off with his axe upon his shoulder. "I shall win the kingdom," he shouted back to the people, who stood laughing to see him go.

When he came near the ogre's castle he heard terrible roarings, such as he had never hoard before. He began to get so frightened that he shook with fear. So he took the golden balls out of his pockeb and tossed one up into the air. The golden ball flew high in the air— high that, to Raoul's utter astonishment, it diasappeared altogether. Then the dreadful noise ceased and Raoul was not afraid any more. He walked forward boldly, and knocked at the door of the , ogre's castle. Down to the door came the ogre. Raoul heard him marching along the hall. The door flew open, and a horrible creature appeared before the eyes of the young woodcutter. There is no need to describe an ogre. You have all heard and read stories with such things as ogres in them. So you can imagine the most dreadful ogre you ever saw standing before Raoul at the door of his caable. The old ogre raised his sword, and cried :

"Who is this creature thab dares 'to approach me ?" Now, when Raoul saw the sword about to descend upon his head he began to geb frightened again. He raised the axe in hie hand to strike the orge, and as he did so he tossed into the air the second of the golden balls. The ball disappeared as before. And again Raoul forgot all tear and shouted:

"I am the man who has come to kill you 1" Then he rushed upon the ogre, with his axe in his hand, and, as he did, the ogre fell down beside Raoul, and Raoul's axe, descending, struck the ogre on the head. The ogre uttered a most frightful roar. Then Raoul gave another strike and cried out: . "Again! . Die, wicked one!" And he tossed into the air the last of the three eolden balls. Raoul's blow cut the ogre's head from his body, and it rolled on the ground at Raoul's feet. With a tremendous crash the ogre's castle fell suddenly into ruins. From the middle of the ruins, walking down through the ogre's garden, came the beautiful princess. She walked slowly towards Raoul, and she seemed not at all alarmed by the fact that the castle was falling behind her. When the princess came walking down through the garden, and the ogre's head fell at Raoul's feet, who should appear coming along the road, just opposite the princess,'but Amos. In his hand he held the throe golden balls. "Is the princess safe?" asked Amos of Raoul.

" I have killed the ogre," shouted Raoul, " and the princess is safe." " Here are your balls, and that is well," said Amos. "Lot us take the princess back to her lather." % So they started, Raoul carrying the ogre's head in triumph before him and Amos behind leading the princess. Happy indeed'*,was the prince to get back his beautiful daughter, and the people all made merry,; and •' there were :■;grand processions; because the' princess was safe again. ... , ,-^,v'v!-'l"'v',. ■■;[■..•?*■,''.'.■ : - , *' But here are two men who have brought) me back my daughter," said the prince. % "It was Raoul who ckilled the ogre," replied Amos. At that the princess hung her head, but she said nothing. J , "It was Amos who led the princess home," said Raoul. Then he looked ab the princess, but the princess ,was looking at Amos, and she did nob notice Raoul. Now, Raoul was

a brave man. He was a truly brave man. That is, be was brave all through, and not just because he was able to cut off an ogre's head. So he eaid : " Prince, it is true that I have killed the ogre and released the v princess. You promised a great reward to the man who did that. And because the princess was beautiful many men hoped to*win her, as well as to get the kingdom yon promised them." "That is true," said the prince. "The hand of the princess is the highest reward." But," said Raoul, "I am stronger than Amos and he must always have all I can give him, because that is so. And if the princess loves Amos let her marry him. As for me, I will take the reward you promised and which is rightfully mine, and I will be content with that." - So Amos and the princess were married, and the whole court danced at the wedding, and they lived in happiness ever* after. That is, they were as happy as people are in story-books. As for Kaoul, he took the great riches and power which the prince gave him, and he lived as a brave man should. He was never jealous or unhappy because Amos had the princess. That showed best of all what a strong man he was.—Exchange.