THE DWARF OF AMETHYST ISLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XXV, 20 June 1896, Page 741

THE DWARF OF AMETHYST ISLAND.

A FAIRY TALE.

(BY

FERNE GLENNE.)

(CONCLUDED.) IT was now broad daylight, and the door and window were open. The dove flew three times round the room and then went off by way of the open window. The dwarf rushed upstairs, followed by the words of the wicked fairy, who chided him with his loss, and said he should have listened to her advice. When he reached the top of the tower he looked towards the North, and saw, fast disappearing, the form of the pink dove. He strained his eyes till at last the speck on the distant horizon vanished and he felt sad. But what did he see ? A ship surely, and coming from the same direction that the bird had flown. He waited, and swift as the flight of the great golden eagle, a lovely ship with sails of woven gold came to the shore of his island and out stepped a lovely princess. She was more beautiful than the dawn. Her face was as sweet as a new blown rose. Her feet, which were clothed in golden shoes, were of the daintiest make. Her raiment shone with the lustre of the setting sun, and her teeth were like rows of pearls. But, alas ! she had only one ear. The other ear was a delicate pink little shell-like thing that nestled amongst her golden locks, but the loss of its mate spoiled the look of her pretty face.

The dwarf bounced downstairs in a great hurry and ran as fast as his spindle shanks would carry him. He fell on his knees at the feet of the princess, who cast a pitying glance at him, and bade him rise and return with her to his castle, for she was hungry and would dine with him.

He told her of his present state, how he had only ten white cats to wait on him, and that they were not fit to come near such loveliness as the princess. But she said she was poor herself, and could put up with whatever he had.

So the dwarf led the way and they were soon inside the castle, where the cats ran round in a great haste to provide a meal for such a beautiful lady. They brought birds from the forest, fish from the stream, and fresh milk to set before her. As they sat at the table the princess related her story, and it was thus : — ‘ I am the princess pink dove, the same that was here bound last night and that you freed, but as you see, I have only one ear. That is through the missing rat’s tail that should have completed the chain that bound me. Years and years ago my father and mother died, leaving me in the care of tny godmother, who was a wicked fairy, and who did all she could to make me unhappy. As I grew to be a woman, the Prince Pearlash, whose father was King of the Land of Coral, came to woo me, and I promised to become his bride. This angered my godmother more than ever, and she set about working her spells to bring me harm. But her charms would not avail, for I kept out of her reach. But one day, as Prince Pearlash was riding over to see me, his horse shied at a toad that was as large as a dog, and which jumped out of a thicket as he passed. He fell to the ground and hurt his knee, but rose to catch his steed. The toad had disappeared, and in its place there stood my wicked godmother.. Now the Prince did not know her, and as she kindly came and offered to bind up his wound, he let her do so, and sat down on a large stone while she did it. Pulling out some rag and a bottle of oil she anointed the wound and bound it up. ‘ The prince was brought into my castle, and I tended him with my own hands, but he grew worse, and by and by his skin began to change and his legs to shrink, and his ears to grow until he became most hideous to behold. Then I knew whose spell was upon him, and I was the more attentive. Till one day, as I sat by his couch reading to him, I heard someone calling me. I left the room but could see no one. When I came back my prince was gone. I was so miserable, and I do not know how long I sat weeping, but on a sudden someone touched me and I looked up to see a fairy who was more beautiful than I can tell. She told me that my godmother had carried the prince away and put him on an island where no one lived. I begged her to show me how I was to get to him. She said she could not help me, as my godmother had more power than she. But I

had better get under her spell and then perhaps it would be possible. ‘ And after that I did not avoid my godmother, and she worked her spells on me till I Oecame a pink dove. As I flew about the good fairy came to me and said, “ Now I can help you, for I am the Queen of the fairy birds. Fly away at once to the South till you come to a lovely island, on which stands a silver and glass palace which you can see from the sea. There you will be caught and bound by your godmother, but take the acorn in your bill and drop it in front of your loved prince, who has now grown most hideous to look upon. If he lets you free, fly home here and you will become a princess again, and I will find a ship to take you there." ‘ So you see I am here, good prince, for you are he, and to make you a prince I have only to kiss you five times ; but first make the ten white cats catch another rat, and then touch the side of my head with the tail of it, and my ear will be made good.’ And the prince, for we will call him dwarf no longer ran away and fetched the cats to hunt for a rat. One was soon found and the princess’s ear was restored. Then taking the prince in her arms, she kissed him five times, and at once he became the handsome fellow he was before the wicked godmother charmed him. And they were married soon after, and lived in the castle of silver and glass on the Amethyst Island, where you will find them now if you go, surrounded by the ten white cats, who have their cream and fish quite regularly as they were promised.