Vl CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
THE FLoweR-GARDEN
CHAPTER X.
A NEw AcquaintANCE .
CHA PTER XI.
MEETING AND PARTING . • - e
CH A PTER XII.
THE CHILDREN IN TRouBLE .
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WHITE LAMB
CHAPTER XIV.
A LONG Journey .
CHA PTER XW.
TEARS AND SMILES - - - e
CHA PTER XVI.
A Discovery
CHAPTER XVII.
KING MYRTLE AND QUEEN ROSEBUD .
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T H E
ENTERTAINING STORY
of
K I N G B R O N D E,
#jig ºily amb is 305tbub,





THE KING'S
LILY AND R O SEBU D.
C EIA P T E R I.
T H E T H R E E PR IN C E S S E S.
F anybody had happened to be walking along
what was called the Robbers' Road, in Long
Forest, a part of the possessions of good King
Brondé, who lived many, many hundred years ago,
he would have perceived that the road was -con-
tinually curving towards the right. He would also
soon have grown weary, for this winding road led,
by degrees, to the top of a mountain. But if he
had kept on and on, and did not give up for weari-
ness, he would at length have come to the palace of
the very king himself. A magnificent palace it was,
too, and a sight of it well worth the long journey.
If you could but have seen how the gilded roof
shone in the sunlight! and the white marble stat-
ues in the gardens ! and the fountains and the
round ponds filled with gold and silver fishes! and
the flocks of lambs with blue and pink ribbons
around their necks 1 and the shepherdesses all
1 *


10 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
dressed in white, each with her crook and her
wreath of flowers 1 — if you could but have seen all
these beautiful things, then would the weary jour-
ney have been soon forgotten.
And could you have entered the palace itself,
and have kept your eyes from being blinded by the
bright colors, the sparkling ornaments, and all the
splendor of this wonderful place, and have wan-
dered on and on, through the spacious apartments,
you would at last have come to an ivory door, over
which was perched a red-and-green parrot. This
parrot was fed upon flowers made from crystals of
white sugar; and had you given him one of these
he would have told you a riddle. But this, of
course, you could not know. And indeed, when
the door was once open, you would have forgotten
parrots and everything else in gazing at the beauti-
ful lady within, – the beautiful pale lady, King
Brondé's queen.
This is her private chamber. The windows are
lofty, and more than half hidden by rich curtains
of crimson. The walls are covered with cloth of
crimson and gold. Vases of white lilies fill the
air with their fragrance. How beautiful is the pale
lady, reclining upon her dark cushions of velvet !
Her robe is of blue silk, embroidered with silver.
Her fair hair is adorned with a wreath of blue
flowers. These flowers are made of precious


THE THREE PRINCESSES. 11
stones, and the leaves are of silver. Her eyes are
blue, too, very blue, – bluer than her silk robe, –
bluer than the flowers in her hair. And oh if
her cheeks had but looked rosy then, she would
have been the most beautiful queen in the world.
But her face was very, very pale; so that when
she was not called the Queen, she was often called
the Pale Lady, or the White Lady, and sometimes
the Lily Queen. -
But what are those blue eyes looking upon so
earnestly, so tenderly, so sadly?
Ah! that I can soon tell you.
But first I must tell you that fastened to the ceil-
ing was a golden eagle, holding in its claws a long
silver cord. This cord sustained a sort of canopy,
made of white velvet, and fringed with silver.
From this canopy hung curtains of the most gauzy,
delicate lace. These were now looped up with
their jewelled "bands, and it was something under-
neath upon which the blue eyes of the Pale Lady
were fixed so earnestly.
Now this something underneath was something
very charming indeed.
It was a babe which lay there, sleeping in its
cradle.
This cradle was curiously wrought of sandal-
wood and rosewood and boxwood and ivory. It
was lined with down, and its cushions were white


12 - THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
and soft as new-fallen snow. The quilt was em-
broidered with pearls. At each of its four corners,
and bending over it, was the sculptured figure of a
little smiling boy. Those at the foot seemed play-
ing softly on musical instruments, as if soothing the
child to slumber. The two at the head were repre-
sented as holding out poppies over the infant
beneath.
But why should the mother look with sadness
upon her babe? If any one could weep in such a
beautiful place, we might fancy almost those were
tears in her blue eyes.
The Pale Lady had, no doubt, cause for sorrow ;
for she sighed frequently, and bowed her head upon
the velvet cushions, saying, “O my precious one !
what shall I ask for thee ?”
At length she took from her bosom a curiously
shaped whistle, which, when she put it to her lips,
gave forth the sweetest notes you ever heard.
Then the ivory door opened softly, and there
came in a bright black-eyed little boy, in a red tur-
ban. The lady, without speaking, pointed to a cas-
ket at the opposite side of the room. This the
little black-eyed, also without speaking, placed in
her hands, and then, with the very lightest of foot-
steps and the very lowest of bows, he left the
TOOm.
The lady unlocked the casket, and, after opening


THE THREE PRINCESSES. 13
many little drawers, she at last took out a most
fairy-like cup, made of alabaster, perfectly plain
and white. Then, lifting the crimson and gold
hangings from the wall near by, she pressed her
finger upon what seemed to be a small picture
fastened in the wood-work. A drawer flew out,
from which the Pale Lady took three small green
stones and a vial. Placing the stones in the cup,
she poured over them a liquid from the vial, and
very soon there began to arise a vapor, which spread
through the apartment. And the Pale Lady, while
the vapor was rising, sang, in low tones, these
words: —
“Wild Mountain Fairy, in robes of green,
List to the call of the Lily Queen.
O, speed thee! speed quickly o'er land and o'er sea,
For the child and its mother are waiting for thee.”
As the vapor melted away, there was seen,
standing by the cradle, a beautiful white lamb;
which, after walking three times around the room,
became transformed into as pretty a green fairy as
ever was seen. Now this is what the fairy said
to the lady, and what the lady said to the fairy.
Fairy.—“Yes: three times I promised to come
at thy bidding. This is the third. What now is
the wish of the fair Lily Queen’’’
Lady. — “Fairy, I pray thee bestow something
good — something blessed — upon my youngest-
born.”


14 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
Fairy. —“Yes, lady. And what shall it be? It
is thine to choose. How is it with the two prin-
cesses, her sisters ? Did I not well by them 2 ”
Lady. —“Fairy, what I asked thou gavest.
For the eldest, I chose the gift of perfect beauty,
for I said, “Every one loves the beautiful; she will
draw all hearts to herself.’”
Fairy. —“And thus did it prove?”
Lady.—“Listen I I hear her step. Judge
now for thyself.”
As the ivory door swung open, the beautiful prin-
cess entered. Perfect beauty had indeed been
given her. There was in her countenance such a
bloom, such a freshness, such a smile upon her lip,
such a light in her eye, that, having once looked,
one was hardly able to turn away. She wore no
ornament, well knowing that gold could buy nothing
so pretty, so bright, so radiant, as herself.
“And such beauty as this, or even greater,
wouldst thou choose for thy youngest-born ?”
asked the fairy.
“O no, no, no l’” said the lady, earnestly.
“O fairyl yonder beauty has no heart, and none
love her. She is not happy; she makes no one
happy.”
“And did I not warn thee ?” asked the fairy.
“Fairy, thou didst. The blame is mine, – mine
only. I foolishly trusted that beauty alone would


THE THREE PRINCESSES. 15
draw loving hearts around her. Oh I she is vain;
she is silly; she is proud. Examine the book she
holds. Inside its covers are little mirrors, that she
may continually enjoy the sight of her beauty. All
the artists in the kingdom are busy painting like-
nesses of her face, her form, her hands. And you
will perceive that the very figures upon her dress
are only so many miniatures of herself.”
“And her sister, the second princess,” inquired
the fairy, “upon whom, at your request, I conferred
great wisdom, -you surely find comfort in her?”
“Alas!” replied the lady, “although she can
converse in all languages, and not even the wisest
philosopher can puzzle her with questions, yet she
cannot make herself beloved, for she knows not the
secret of making even the poorest child happy.
Though despising beauty, yet she is envious of her
sister; and their want of affection saddens my whole
life. But you will see, now, this wise princess.
That is her step approaching. It will be very for-
tunate if we understand her, for seldom does she
converse in our own language.”
Again the ivory door opened, to admit the second
princess, who instantly began talking.
“Alski, moſo, se lup tak sba tab enryo dyo!”
she exclaimed.
Her dress was a brownish robe, reaching to the
floor. It was covered with ink-spots. Her hair was


THE THREE PRINCESSES. 17
And all who have love in their hearts possess the
blessing you have chosen, – the power and the will
to create happiness. Be silent, now, and let only
beautiful and holy thoughts enter your mind.”
The fairy then described with her wand a circle
upon the floor, in the centre of which she stood for
some time, motionless. At last, in a low voice, she
began chanting, —
“Beautiful Spirit ! Spirit of Love,
Why dost thou tarry 3 O, where dost thou rove 2
Linger not by the altar, sweet Spirit, for see
The child of the Lily Queen waiteth for thee.”


18 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
As she chanted, her voice grew fainter and fainter.
Her form faded, becoming more and more shadow-
like, until, at length, its last dim outline disappeared.
But while the Pale Lady was still gazing at the
spot where the fairy had stood, she heard a voice
faintly singing, —
“The Fairy Green
No more is seen.
Look not for me,
Dear lady. But see :
Where cometh above
The Spirit of Love.”
The lady raised her eyes to the ceiling, and saw
there what appeared to be a kind of white cloud.
While gazing, full of wonder at this strange appear-
ance, she perceived, flying from it, a small, white
dove. Following its motions with her eye, she saw
that it was flying in circles around the cradle.
These circles grew smaller and smaller, and at
length the beautiful little creature alighted upon the
clasped hands of the child, and then creeping into
its bosom, just where its little heart was beating, it
lay there as quietly as if it had never in its life
known any other nest.
The lady now perceived that the air was filled
with the singing of birds, and, looking up, she saw
that the white cloud had changed, and was now of
the most brilliant colors; and that from the midst


THE THREE PRINCESSES. 19
of it were flying birds such as she had never before
seen or heard, – birds of the most radiant plumage,
purple and gold and scarlet, and whose warbling
was inexpressibly melodious. The whole room was
filled with their brightness and with their music.
They seemed to be attendants of the white dove,
for they hovered about the cradle, though not one
alighted. Poised in the air, fluttering their bright
wings, their singing was not like that of birds, but
like some heavenly anthem, such as she had im-
agined might be sung by angels.
At first this music was overpowering, but grew
softer by degrees, and so soothing that the lady soon
lost all consciousness of what was about her. Her
eyelids drooped, and she wondered how it was that
the music sounded so far away.
When the power of opening her eyes was re-
stored to her, she looked eagerly about, and then
grew very sad, for there were no sweet sounds in
the room, - no birds, no music.
Running to her child, she searched eagerly in its
bosom. But no dove was there, —nothing but a
warm, bright red spot, just over its little heart.
The babe opened its blue eyes, smiled, and put
out its tiny hands to its mother; and the Pale Lady
might have thought she had been dreaming, were
it not for the bright red spot which, as I said before,
was plainly to be seen just over the little quick-
beating heart.


KING BRONDE. 21
“To be sure l’” said his mother. “What’s to
hinder ?”
“Well,” said the lad, “I shall go now to live
with the giant, and he will teach me.”
Then his mother began to weep and to wail most
bitterly, and to say, “O no l O no l’’
But when the little boy said he was not afraid,
and told how stout he would grow and how he
would take care of her, and how proud she should
be of such a big son, she wiped her tears and gave
him her consent. So Brondé ran to the forest, and
cried out, “Sir giant! sir giant! I am ready.”
And then the giant put him in his pocket, and
walked away.
And Brondé lived a year in the cave; and the
giant fed him with something which caused him to
grow very big and very tall and very strong. This
something was a mountain herb which giants fea
upon, and may, no doubt, be still found in that
region, only that no one knows the spot where it
grows.
Brondé, as I said, grew very large and strong,
and would, no doubt, have some day become a
giant himself, had his stout friend lived long
enough.
But the giant grew sick, and laid him down to
die. Knowing that his end was near, he called
Brondé close to his mouth, and said to him : —


KING BRONDE. 23
with the utmost care, and never use it unless your
very life depends upon its aid.
“This, then,” said the giant, as he hung the
vial about the neck of Brondé by a stout cord,
“this is my dying gift; listen, now, to my dying
request.
“When I am dead, leave my body in this cave.
Roll rocks about the mouth of it, till no opening
can be seen. Pull up oak-trees and plant them
around, that no one may ever discover the entrance
to my tomb.”
So the giant died; and Brondé, with his immense
strength, rolled rocks and planted trees, until the
cave was entirely concealed. And, to this day, no


24 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
*
traveller journeying that way ever knew he was
passing the tomb of a giant.
Now Brondé had lived in the cave just a year
and a day. And the same flowers were in bloom,
the meadows were as green, the waters as blue, the
sky was as bright, the air as soft, and the birds were
singing as sweetly the very same tunes, as on the
day when he kissed his mother and ran to meet the
giant in the forest.
And Brondé wondered, as he travelled home-
ward, whether he really were Brondé, and really
had a mother living in a brown cottage by the edge
of a forest. And the more he wondered, the faster
he walked; until, at length, he walked so fast that
no horse could pass him by.
Now, when his mother, who was looking out
from her little window at the house-top, saw this
big fellow coming at such a rate, she ran down to
fasten the door. She was too late, however, for he
was already in the room, and searching for some-
thing on the top shelf of the cupboard.
“Ah, here it is l’” said he, – “the little blue
honey-pot. Now it is certain I am Brondé. For
though there might be a brown cottage like this, it
would not have a cupboard like this, and a little blue
honey-pot on the top shelf.”
When the good dame reached the bottom of the
r


KING BRONDE. 25
stairs, she was terribly frightened to see such a
powerful man in possession of her room and her
honey-pot.
“Pardon me,” said he, “...but I have travelled
long, and am very hungry.”
The dame, seeing she could do no other, brought
her oatmeal cakes and all her pans of milk, and
then, by way of passing the time, asked if there
were any news.
“O, great news!” said he ; “the giant is dead.”
“Alas!” said the good woman, beginning to
weep, “where, then, is my little son 2"
Then Brondé laughed, and cried out, —
“I am your little son l’”
And he pulled from his pocket the whole suit of
clothes which he had worn away.
Then the dame knew it was her own son, and
would have fainted away for joy, had not Brondé
caught her in his arms and kissed her and hugged
her as if she had only been a little child.
And Brondé lived many years with his mother,
and was a good son to her till she died.
He then went forth into the world to seek his
fortune. And chancing to stop in a great city,
through which a legion of soldiers was passing, he
resolved to join the army, and fight for the king.
Now the king of the land soon heard of the mar-
2.


26 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
vellous deeds of his new soldier, and straightway
sent for him to come to the palace, that he might
behold with his own eyes this great wonder.
Brondé, therefore, visited the palace. And the
king was so charmed with his lofty stature, his
noble air, and his fine appearance, that he must
needs have him among his own private guards, and
very soon made him captain over them all. And it
was soon found that this great soldier was as good
as he was great, and as gentle as he was strong.
For never in his life had he used his strength to
oppress the weak; but, on the contrary, sought to
help all who were in distress.
Now the king had an only child, a daughter as
fair and sweet as a lily. And the king never called"
her anything but his White Lily, or his Precious
Lily. This princess was the life and light of the
court. She was sweet-tempered and modest, yet
merry and playful as a kitten, dancing and singing
from morning to night.
And one day, when the king was away, and the
courtiers were feasting in the grand banquet-hall,
there ran in among them maidens weeping, and cry-
ing out, —
“Save the princess! Oh! who will save the
princess?”
And every one rushed from the palace to learn
what had befallen the king's Lily.


KING BRONDE. 27
The maidens ran swiftly towards the river, and
then every one thought she had been drowned.
But no. On towards the mountains the maidens
ran. And, half-way up the mountain path, they
pointed below to a crevice between two huge rocks,
and told how the princess, in her eagerness to chase
a gazelle, had slipped and fallen through. And
hardly had they finished speaking before the voice
of the princess was heard, in tones of distress, call-
ing out for help.
All were now in dismay, crying out, “Alas!
alas ! the princess will die!”
But when Brondé arrived, and saw that trees
were growing about the foot of the outer rock, he
quickly let himself down, and began pulling them
out by their roots. This so loosened the earth that,
by means of his great strength, he could easily start
the rock from its nest. And this he did, and sent
it rolling, whirling, plunging, nobody looked to see
how far, for all were busy with the princess, who,
though very little hurt, was trembling with fright.
And Brondé, seeing that she could hardly stand,
took her in his arms and bore her to the palace, the
rest following far behind.
If he had not taken her in his arms and borne
her to the palace, it is probable this story would
never have been written, as will presently be
shown.


28 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
When the
princess found
herself unhurt,
she began to
laugh within
herself at this
adventure, and
at the odd way
she was trav-
elling home. And as her º
head lay upon the shoul-
der—the big, broad shoul-
der—of Brondé, his long,
fair curls touched her
cheek. So, being fond of
mischief, she slyly drew
forth her scissors, cut off
one curl, and kept it hid
in her hand. And Brondé
did not know a word
about it; though, had he known, it would not have
displeased him, since, had she wished, he would
gladly have given her every one of them; for he
was quite fond of the charming little princess.
And he grew still more fond of her as years
passed, and wondered within himself whether such
a big fellow as he could ever please such a delicate
little creature as the king's Lily. And if that


30 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
ing upon whom the choice might fall. And she
thought that by a cunning little trick matters might
be well arranged. So she said to her father, the
king: “My dearest father, in coming from the
mountains one day, I discovered a lock of hair, so
beautiful that I have preserved it ever since. Who-
ever, now, in all your court, can match this lock
with one of his own, he, and he only, shall be my
choice.”
Now when this declaration of the princess was
made known, it caused great commotion among the
young nobles of the court. All were examining
their locks, and longing to know the color of that
which the king's Lily had discovered in coming from
the mountain.
Brondé sent in one of his fair curls with the rest,
and was, of course, the lucky winner. For not one
in the whole court had hair so soft and of so beauti-
ful a color as he.
And he soon found that the heart of the princess
was quite large enough to love even so big a fellow
as himself. And the princess made the discovery
that the small, pale thing, as she had called herself,
was the very thing, in all the world, that Brondé
most wished for. The king, too, was well pleased
to give to his daughter so kind a protector, and to
his kingdom so brave a defender. And thus it hap-
pened, for once, that everybody was pleased. The


KING BRONDE. 31
lady with her lover, the lover with his lady, the
king with his son-in-law, and the people with their
king that was to be.
There was one person, however, who, far away,
hearing of Brondé's good fortune, was not so well
pleased. This person was a man of great strength
and size, who has already been spoken of. He called
himself Magnus, or “The Great.”
He, too, had once been among the king's guards,
and would have been quite ready to take both daugh-
ter and kingdom. But by reason of his cruelty and
for his many bad acts, he was banished from the coun-
try. After Brondé had been made a great captain
in the army, Magnus went to him secretly, by night,
and said: “Come, now, we two are strong and can
accomplish whatsoever we will. Let us gather
about us a troop of brave men; let us entice the
king's soldiers; there are many who will gladly
fight under two such powerful leaders. We will
attack the palace, throw the king into prison, and
become ourselves rulers of the land.”
But Brondé said, “I will not use my strength to
do evil.” And Magnus, for this, hated Brondé, and
was, therefore, far from rejoicing at his good fortune.
His envy and his displeasure, however, were
alike unknown to Brondé and the princess. They
were married and lived happily. Their father, the
king, built for them two fine palaces, one within the


32 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
city and the other far away among the forests and
mountains. It was this summer palace, standing
high, all glittering with silver and gold, which was
spoken of in the beginning. And it will now be
understood that the Pale Lady, sitting in the Crim-
son Chamber, was the good old king's Lily Princess
whom Brondé saved on the mountain, whom he
bore home in his arms, and whom he afterwards
married. The old king had now long been dead,
and King Brondé was enjoying a peaceful reign.
Affairs went smoothly on, his people loved him and
he loved his people, and he still spent the summers
at the beautiful palace in Long Forest.
But peaceful days last not always, and troubles,
dangers, and bitter sorrows were in store for the
good King Brondé and his Lily Queen.


THE WOOD-CUTTER'S CHILDREN. 33
C H A P T E R III.
THE wooD-CUTTER'S CHILDREN.
E left, at the end of the first chapter, a
child sleeping in its cradle within a chamber
of the royal palace. To this child, this third little
princess, was given the name of Rosebud. Her
father, King Brondé, it was, who gave his little
daughter this name. He came into the chamber
one day just as she had awakened, with flushed
cheeks, from a long sleep. Now the Lily Queen,
in remembrance of the Green Fairy, had the child
dressed always in green. King Brondé, when he
lifted her in his arms, said: “Why, my dear Lily,
with her red cheeks she is like a rosebud in its green
jacket.” And they agreed that she should be called
Rosebud.
And a sweet Rosebud she was to them always.
First, till she was a year old, when she walked;
then, till she was two years old, when she talked;
then, till three years old, when she sang; then, till
four years old, when she could sit before her father,
on horseback, and go forth riding in the forest. The
2 * C


34 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
lords and ladies of the court were quite charmed
with the king's Rosebud, and as her years increased
she came to be the delight of the whole palace.
For the love-flame kindled in her heart was always
burning there. It shone through her eyes, it lighted
up her face, and she had smiles and pleasant words
and loving ways for everybody.
The heart of the Pale Lily Queen was comforted.
And as for King Brondé, there was nothing too
beautiful or too costly for his darling Rosebud. She
was the joy of his heart.
But very often his Lily Queen would say to him:
“My dear Brondé, we are now too happy. Surely
some evil will soon befall us.”
Then would Brondé encircle the child with his
arms, and say, “O, may this precious one, at least,
be kept from harm.”
But the Lily Queen, sighing, would murmur softly
to herself, “Ah, she is too bright, too lovely a flower
for earth !”
As Rosebud grew older, she showed great delight
in birds, squirrels, wild flowers, and everything
which lived or grew in the woods, and her attend-
ants had plenty to do in following her up and down
about the country. The woodmen all knew her,
for she was continually dancing along the forest
paths, or dropping like a sunbeam into their rude


THE WOOD-CUTTER'S CHILDREN. 35
huts. Yes, like a sunbeam, for she brought the
light of her bright face and the warmth of her lov-
ing heart. She made little children glad, she made
the old people glad, and for miles around every one
knew and loved the king's Rosebud.
One day as Rosebud was walking with her sisters
along the river's bank, they heard a noise as of some
one calling, “Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!”
It was not a shout, but a faint, mournful cry.
Looking up, they saw, at a short distance from the
shore, a small boat drifting along with the stream.
A pale, ragged child sat leaning his forehead upon
the boat's edge, now and then raising it to call out,
in a feeble voice, “Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!
Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La! ”
Seeing the three maidens, he eagerly stretched
forth his hands as if asking for assistance.
The eldest princess said: “Pshaw what do we
care for the ugly, dirty fellow 2°
And the second princess said: “Stupid, ignorant
little wretch | Let him gol”
But the third princess ran for a man and a boat,
which were soon in readiness; for every one was
eager to obey even the slightest wish of little Rose-
bud.
When the drifting boat was towed to the shore,
there was found in it not only a boy, but a little girl,


36 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
lying in the bottom of the boat, — a very pale little
girl, who seemed too weak to do more than just open
her brown eyes and gaze piteously about her. But
when food and cordials had been given them, it was
found that they could both talk, and that quite well.
Now this is the story the little boy told of himself
and his little sister.
They belonged a great way up the river. A long
time ago, he could not tell how long, there was fam-
ine in that country, and their mother sickened and
died.
One day their father embraced them, with tears
in his eyes, and said:—
“Farewell, farewell, my pretty dears. I am
going now to seek employment in the kingdom of
good King Brondé, where, as I am told, all may
find work and bread.”
And they were left in the care of a woman who
treated them ill. This woman was not only cruel,
but a thief. She kept the gold their father sent, and
would give them no news of him, except that he
was a wood-cutter, in Long Forest.
One moonlight night the boy showed to his sister
a bag of dry crusts, and said, “Let us go and seek
our father.” -
And she said, “O yes!”
Then they jumped into a little skiff, which had no
oar. “No matter for that,” said the boy; “it will


THE WOOD-CUTTER'S CHILDREN. 37
be sure to drift down.” For they knew that their
father had sailed away down the river.
And a very long river the boy thought it must
be. For they had drifted, night and day, through
many a desolate plain and gloomy forest. And all
the time he had kept shouting, loud and clear at
first, but more feebly as his strength grew less,
“Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La! Tirra, Tirra,
Tirra, Tirra La l’”
“And what was that for ?” asked Rosebud.
Why, in their own country, the boy said, were
robbers and bandits and many fierce men. There
was danger always; and their father, as he returned
from his day’s hunting, or his day's labor, would
call out, while crossing the little bridge near their
cottage, “Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La! Tirra,
Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La l’” to let them know of his
safety. And they would answer back the same cry,
that he might be sure no harm had come to them in
his absence.
“And so,” continued the little boy, “we called,
‘Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!’ while floating
along, that our father might hear.” -
“But he did not hear!” said the little girl, sadly.
“Now, children,” said Rosebud, “do not be sor-
rowful any more, for this is Long Forest. The pal-
ace of King Brondé is near, and I am his little girl,
and I shall help you to find your father. Pray what


38 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
is his name 2'' But the children knew only that
he was called “Father.” “For all that, we shall
find him,” said Rosebud. And every morning,
though dressed out in costly array, and her princess's
crown, she took the two children by the hand, and
they walked together along the forest paths; and
whenever they heard the sound of a wood-chopper's
axe they shouted: –
“Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!” and then
stopped awhile to listen, but heard only the echoes,
repeating, more and more faintly, “Tirra, Tirra,
Tirra, Tirra La! Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!”
And the children grew very sad, and said, “O,
we shall never, never again see our father l’”
And the two elder princesses said: “Rosebud,
why will you keep such low company? You really
trouble yourself a great deal about nothing.”
But Rosebud answered, “Is it nothing to lose a
father ?” And she cheered the two children, and
said to them: “Do not give up yet, for I am sure
we shall not fail.”
And one bright, calm summer noon, as they were
passing a thick grove of oaks, there was heard, far
away, the sound of a wood-cutter's axe.
They called out, as was their custom, “Tirra,
Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!” and then stood listening.
“Tirra, Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La!” they heard in
reply.


THE WOOD-CUTTER'S CHILDREN. 39
“That’s not an echo l’’ cried the boy; “call
again l’’ -
They called again, all together, very loud: “Tirra,
Tirra, Tirra, Tirra La l’”
The answer came back in a clear, strong voice,
and much nearer than before.
Then a crashing of branches was heard, and a
stout man burst through.
At first he could not speak, from astonishment.
But at last he caught the two children in his arms,
kissed them, hugged them, wept over them, and
called them his precious, precious children.
And Rosebud, seeing that they both were crying
for joy, herself stepped forward and told their story.


THE CAVE. 41
~
It was in this cave that, late one summer's night,
they came together, each bringing with him the
booty he had secured during the day. Blazing
torches hung around on the dark walls. In the
corners were piles of grain, fruit, meats, stolen from
the farmers; also bags and portmanteaus taken .
from unfortunate travellers.
They gathered about the long table, – tall, gaunt
figures, with dark faces, – they gathered about the
long table with but few words, for they had trav-
elled fast and far, and were eager for food.
When their appetites were satisfied, their captain
drew forth a heavy bag, from which he emptied a
heap of gold. Half of this he locked up in an iron
box, and was proceeding to divide the remainder,
when, chancing to raise his eyes, he saw, standing
at the foot of the table, a man of great size, dressed
in skins and well armed. A company of men,
dressed and armed like himself, but inferior in size,
were stealing softly into the cave and grouping
themselves around him.
“Betrayed!” shouted the robbers; and each man
man felt for his sword.
But the fierce-looking stranger threw down his
arms, bade his followers do the same, and, waving
his hand to the company, said: —
“No, not betrayed. We are no spies, but, on the
contrary, would become your friends. Listen, now,


THE CAWE. 43
“True ! True !” they cried, eagerly.
“Yes, true,” exclaimed Magnus. “And I hate
King Brondé because he is richer and luckier than
myself. There is no reason why I should not have
wedded a princess and inherited a kingdom. I am
as strong to protect, as brave to defend. And I seek
his death; for, when he is gone, I need not then
say, ‘I am the largest and strongest man living,
except—’; but, “I am the largest and strongest
man living,'—and nothing more. I have a plan,
my friends, which I will now unfold to you.”
This speech was received with cheers and wild
hurrahs; but Magnus, with a wave of his hand,
said:—
“Quietly, my brave fellows. Our time is not
yet. Nothing can be done openly. King Brondé
is surrounded by brave soldiers, who would shed
for him their last drop of blood. Listen now.”
There was then deep silence in the cave, while
Magnus, in a long speech, unfolded his plans.
But what those plans were, need not here be re-
lated, since all who read further will discover for
themselves.


44 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
C EIA P T E R V.
MEETING OF THE FAIRIES.
OW on this very night the Green Fairy was
holding her court in Daisy Hollow, deep in
the forest. How lovely were these pretty creatures,
as they appeared, one after another, their bright
wings fluttering, and glistening with dew I
Truly fairy-like were their greetings | A mortal,
listening near, might have supposed he heard only
the sighing of the summer breeze, the murmur of
brooklets, or the far-off tinkling of little bells.
But their queen allowed them very little time for
greeting. For it had been long since they met, and
much was to be told and much heard, before the
dawn. She therefore began singing: —
“Where the softest grass is found,
Quickly form your circle round.
Let each one say,
E’er the dawning of day,
What wonderful things she has seen on her way.
Through meadow and wildwood ye’ve been on the wing,
What news do ye bring 3 What news do ye bring 4°
They then began telling, each in turn, of all their
adventures since the last meeting. And, at last, one


MEETING OF THE FAIRIES. 45
little pink fairy jumped up briskly, singing thus;
and, as she sang, a little attendant fairy echoed her
last words : —
“I know a cave in the forest deep,
Forest deep,
Where a wicked band their revels keep,
Revels keep.
Old Magnus now has joined them too,
Joined them too,
With his bold and fearless crew,
Fearless crew.
I scented mischief in the air,
In the air.
There’s mighty mischief brewing there,
- Brewing there.”
Now, when the Green Fairy heard this, she
quickly broke up the court. For Magnus's hatred
of King Brondé was well known to her; and, al-
though ignorant of his plans, yet she knew very
well whose life they would endanger.
In the shape of an owl she flew into the cave,
and there, perched on a rock near the roof, she lis-
tened while Magnus made known to the company
his intentions with regard to King Brondé and his
Court.
Next day, changing herself to a beautiful bird,
she flew swiftly to the palace, where the queen was
sitting with her ladies upon the balcony. And
while flying over their heads, she sang thus : —


MEETING OF THE FAIRIES. 47
then, as she felt his brown curls brushing her cheek,
she confessed, for the first time, the trick she played
him on their way from the mountains. But I don’t
believe he was at all angry with her, — do you ?
Not long after this, as the king and all his court
were amusing themselves one fine morning on the
lawn, in front of the palace, there came running in
among them a wood-cutter, crying out that two.
lions had been seen in the forest Then ran every
man for his bow and spear, the king as swift as any.
All were eager for the hunt, but the queen was full
of alarm. She wept, and, clasping the hands of her
husband, begged him to remain. But this, of course,
he would not do. What were a couple of lions to
a strong man like him 7


48 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
CHA PTE R v I.
GOING A HUNTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
OW these were the orders which Magnus had
given to his company.
First, no blood must be shed. King Brondé's
men were to be carried off prisoners to his strong
castle, in a far country, - an immense castle, whose
walls were of such thickness, and so well defended,
that the king of the country himself dared not
attack it. The ladies of the court were also to be
taken to the castle, and even their children. For
all these prisoners, Magnus expected that heavy
ransoms would be offered in silver and gold. King
Brondé, loaded with chains, would be confined in
the cave, until Magnus should decide the manner
of his death. As for the lower people, the wood-
cutters, foresters, laborers, they must also be carried
off with the rest, as laboring men were much needed
at the castle.
But in the first place Magnus sent a message to
the powerful band he had left behind, commanding
that one hundred of his strongest, boldest men,
well armed, should come to him without delay.


GOING A HUNTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 49
As soon as this order was received, one hundred
strong, bold men, well armed, mounted their fleet-
est horses, and rode night and day until they reached
the cave.
Spies were then sent out, with orders to watch
the movements of King Brondé, and to give timely
notice whenever he should go forth to hunt.
But a whole week passed, and still the wished-for
notice was not given.
“King Brondé is weary of hunting deer,” said
one of the men, as they were gathered, one even-
ing, in the cave.
“If that be so,” cried Magnus, “why, we can
easily manage a lion or two.”
He then made a sign to one of his men, who


GOING A HUNTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 51
and to partake of the refreshment which must at
that time be negded.
Accordingly, at the time appointed, they began
to appear, one after another, at this rendezvous,
and to relate their adventures.
It seemed that but little had been done. One
had seen a tail, another a head, many had heard
roarings, and many had neither seen nor heard any-
thing at all. Provisions were spread upon the
grass, and, after eating and drinking, the whole
company joined in singing a hunting-song.
Meanwhile, Magnus's men had quietly formed
a circle around the Hollow, and were eagerly
awaiting from their leader the signal to advance.
Magnus had ordered that each should select his
man, he himself taking King Brondé. But know-
ing that the strength of his rival fully equalled his
own, he had selected from the company ten stout
men to assist him.
While the hunting party were gayly eating and
drinking, the circle had been gradually closing
around them. As soon as the singing began, Mag-
nus waved his sword. This was the signal agreed
upon, and the wild crew crept stealthily forward
among the trees, now flat upon the grass, now over
rocks, and now forcing with their swords a way
through tangled thickets.


52 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
And at last, just as the chorus of the merry band
rang loudly and cheerily out, they burst with loud
cries from the wood, and in an instant each one of
the hunters found himself laid prostrate upon the
ground, a powerful foot upon his breast, a sharp
knife at his throat. And so quickly and so skilfully
was this accomplished, that hardly a single drop of
blood had been shed.
The moment that King Brondé saw the powerful
form bending over him, he knew well who was his
enemy. Exerting all his immense strength, he
endeavored to set himself free. But Magnus was
armed, and had strength fully equal to his own.
He was also assisted by the ten picked men.
King Brondé, recollecting the little vial hanging
at his neck, contrived to draw it forth, and was in
the act of drawing out the cork with his teeth, when
Magnus, who knew its contents, snatched it away,
at the same time breaking the cord.
But in the contest the little vial fell to the
ground. Magnus vainly sought it, for one of
Brondé's men, who had in some way escaped from
his captor, very cunningly, with the tip of his
sword, rolled it under a plantain-leaf. When the
search was over, he hid it in his bosom, and amid the
confusion contrived to make his way unnoticed to
the woods, and so escaped.
King Brondé and his men were taken to the


GOING A HUNTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 53
cave, and there made to exchange clothes with
their captors. Magnus cut off King Brondé's fair
curls, and covered with them his own coarse black
locks, that the Lily Queen might suppose him to be
the real Brondé.
The robbers then, clothed in the garments of
their prisoners, and bearing their bows and spears,
marched boldly to the palace. Now the queen and
all her ladies were met upon the Velvet Lawn, near
the palace, where they were amusing themselves by
shooting at a mark. They wore dresses of pure
white, their heads were adorned with wreaths of
flowers, and about their waists were green garlands.
Their arrows were silver-tipped, and their bows
decked with ribbons. But the dress of Rosebud
was green, besprinkled with diamonds like dew-
drops on the grass. For she was always dressed in
this color, in remembrance of the Green Fairy.
The robbers approached, amid the winding of
horns and bugle-blasts.
“Ah!” cried Rosebud, “I see my stout, hand-
some father coming !” And she was off like an
arrow to meet him.
“Ah, yes!” cried the queen; “there are my
Brondé's fair curls. And there is the red feather I
placed this morning in his cap !”
Ah, poor Rosebud And ah, poor Lily Queen!
In one short hour after this, queen, ladies, servants,


54 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
children, laborers, –all were prisoners' All bound,
and on their way to some gloomy castle belonging
to Magnus. Also the costly treasures of the palace,
the gold, the jewels, the ermine robes,-everything
of value which could be taken.
One precious thing only was left, and this pre-
cious thing was the king's Rosebud.
It happened in this way.
Rosebud, with outstretched arms, ran to meet her
father, her face beaming with joy, her heart brim-
ming over with love for him. He had returned
—returned safel Nothing had happened to him
in the forest.
“Dear, dear father l’” she cried.
As we all know, however, it was not really her
father, but the wicked Magnus.
Now, when this wicked Magnus looked down into
the face of Rosebud, he beheld there something
which he never saw before. He had seen courage,
he had seen strength, he had seen bravery; but a
deep, o'erflowing love, like that expressed in the
flushed and beaming face before him, he had never
yet known.
And while he secured her as his prisoner, and
saw her tears, and the horror and affright with
which she regarded him, he felt a strange desire
creeping into his heart to bring back that same look
again ; and, more than this, to have that beautiful


GOING A HUNTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 55
look meant, really meant, for himself. That grim,
bad man actually felt that the love of a little child
would be a pleasant thing to have
“Very soon,” said he to himself, “she will have
neither father nor mother. I can very well manage
that. I will then provide for her a beautiful abode,
and give her many pretty things, gay toys, fine
clothes, and she shall call me father. And when I
come home she will run with outstretched arms,
and with a shining face, and will say, ‘Dear, dear
father | * *
Rosebud, therefore, was not sent away with the
rest, but was placed on a bed, in an upper chamber,
all by herself, with the door locked.
And in the middle of the night there came a
stout man into the chamber, who lifted her from the
bed, saying: —
“I am sent by the great Magnus. You need not
struggle, for I am strong; nor cry aloud, for there
are none to hear you; and you need not fear, for
no harm will befall you.”
So Rosebud lay quite still in his arms, like a
wounded bird, while he trudged stoutly on, till they
came to a place in the woods where stood three men
by a litter. Into this litter Rosebud was placed, and
the four men, each bearing one end of a pole, went
on as rapidly as the path would admit.
On they travelled, day after day, a weary, weary


GOING A HUNTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 57
Now this fine little plan was not fully carried out.
A beginning, however, was made, as will now be
related.
One night, after weeks of weary journeying, —
not in the direction of the castle, however, Rupert
had seen to that, — after weeks of weary journeying,
they stopped by the edge of a wood for a few hours'
sleep. Rosebud was lying in her litter, upon the
ground. A lion-skin was thrown over her, as a
protection from the night dews.
She heard the deep breathing of the men around
her, and knew that they were asleep. And as she
lay there, quite still, looking up through the branches
at the twinkling stars, listening to the rustling of the
leaves as the night wind blew over them, she heard,
so it seemed to her, a whispering or murmuring
voice, which appeared to come from a tall, flowering
shrub growing near, whose blossoms were white in
the moonlight.
A soft, silvery voice it was, but Rosebud, listening
carefully, could distinguish words like these : —
“Be of good cheer,
O maiden dear;
No longer fear,
For help is near.”
Rosebud opened wide her eyes to make sure it was
not a dream. But no, there were the stars, the
rustling leaves, and the sleeping men around her:
- 3 *


GoING A HUNTING, AND what cAME of IT. 59
the edge of the woods. He lay quietly down among
them, and, being very tired from the long journey,
fell sound asleep. -
At daylight he was aroused by the voices of his
companions calling upon him to rise quickly and
help to find their little prisoner, who had escaped, or
had been carried away, during the night. Rupert
then ran eagerly about among the trees, taking care
to go always in the wrong direction.
After long searching, they became weary and
resolved to seek no longer. For, said they, what-
ever may be her fate, the child cannot fare worse
than if in the hands of Magnus.
But, in order to escape his anger, they agreed to
leave the country and never return.
Now Rupert, as soon as the other three were at a
safe distance, ran quickly to release Rosebud. She
was fast asleep !
Some miles distant, close by the sea-shore, dwelt
an old woman, who, in her youth, had been the
friend of Rupert's mother; and it was in her care
that for the present he had determined to leave
Rosebud. He remained in the woods through the
day, and at night took his little girl in his arms, and
carried her safely to the hut of this old woman. It
was his plan to leave her here, while he sought, in
some distant country, employment by which to sup-
port both her and himself. He would then claim
and keep her for his own.


60 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
So Rosebud was left in the hut by the sea-shore,
where she had some truly wonderful adventures, all
of which will be told at a proper time. We must
now see what became of King Brondé, whom we
left with his men in the Robbers' Cave.


ESCAPING FROM PERILS. 61
C H A P T E R V II.
ESCAPING FROM PERILS.
LL the other prisoners were carried away to the
castle, but King Brondé was left, left alone in
the cave. This was because it would take too many
men to guard him on the road. A strong band
were to return for him. He was, therefore, dragged
to the deepest depths of the cave, far from the light
of day, and there securely bound. Magnus, then,
with his immense strength, and the assistance of
his men, heaped up at the entrance such a moun-
tain of rocks, earth, and trees as would require an
army of men to remove.
Now while the robbers, in the depths of the cave;
were roughly fastening their chains around good
King Brondé, he observed that one among them,
who was very busy at his right arm, seemed much
fiercer than the rest, much more eager to bind him.
And when, at one time, this very zealous robber
rudely thrust his hand beneath the robe of the king,
and directly over his heart, Brondé was sure that he
meant, with some hidden weapon, to deal him his
death-blow. But the hand was quickly withdrawn,


64 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
clothes with their prisoners, they were, of course,
dressed like himself. He then went boldly among
them and heard all their plans. As Magnus offered
great rewards for the lost vial, he felt sure it con-
tained some secret charm, and resolved to restore it
to King Brondé. He was the very zealous robber
who was so eager to secure the right arm of the
king, but who, in reality, left the chain unfastened.
King Brondé, now, his right arm free, his lost
treasure restored, felt sure of escaping. He swal-
lowed a few drops of the liquid, and then, making
one powerful effort, burst his chains and stood once
more erect with limbs unbound !
After this, he lay for hours in a heavy sleep, or
stupor. Upon awakening, he found himself in com-
plete darkness, the torches having burnt out long
before. After groping in the dark for some time, he
succeeded in finding the spot where the entrance had
been, but the masses of rock there heaped up were
as firm as were the solid walls. He felt for his vial,
but it was gone. It had, no doubt, dropped upon
the ground, during that long sleep, and afterwards
been crushed beneath his heavy tread, for not a trace
of it was ever found.
But, as has been mentioned, he was possessed of
a secret, by means of which he might escape.
It appears that, long before, and at the time their


ESCAPING FROM PERILS. 65
summer palace had been built by the father of his
Lily Queen, King Brondé had often, while his
men were ranging in the forest, examined this cave
in every part, and, being exceedingly tall, had
made a discovery. And it was by means of this
discovery that he now proposed to gain his freedom.
Climbing up, several yards from the ground, he
reached an opening which extended, not upwards,
but horizontally, for thirty feet or more. Through
this he crept, until he came to a second opening,
which led upwards. Through this he began climb-
ing, but soon found, to his sorrow, that it was filled
with rocks and earth.
This opening was, no doubt, a private entrance to
the cave, known only to the leaders of the first band
of robbers, until accidentally discovered by King
Brondé.
The obstructions which now filled this opening
he, with great labor, at length removed. As there
was no means of telling day from night, it was im-
possible to know how much time was thus consumed.
By degrees he worked his way upwards, taking no.
rest, and at last felt himself grasping the roots of
trees. And presently after, to his great joy, he
perceived a ray of light! A faint, feeble ray, but
it came, as he knew, from the warm sun and through
the free air! Redoubling now his exertions, he
pressed upwards, and not many hours elapsed before
E.


66 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
he sprang forth into the open air, and stood, a free
man, upon the side of the mountain
Not knowing how many of his enemies might be
near, he concealed himself until evening, and then
cautiously approached his palace. He watched and
listened long, but saw no light, heard no sound.
What, then, had become of all the ladies of the
court? of his own Lily and precious Rosebud? He
entered the palace, wandered through its deserted
chambers, but found none to answer the questions
he was so eager to ask.
He stood long by the window, gazing at the deso-
late scene around, vainly striving to think calmly,
that he might decide upon some plan of action.
The moon shone brightly, lighting up the deserted
lawn, the woodland paths, the pleasant groves which
had once rung with the music of happy voices ! He
heard the bleating of a goat near. It was a little
white goat, belonging to Rosebud, and which she
had fed daily. O, where was Rosebud now Ż
In his despair he was about to rush from the pal-
sace, when his attention was arrested by a noise like
that of distant music. As it grew nearer, he could
plainly distinguish the roll of drums. Nearer, still,
it came, and he saw the glitter of spears in the
moonlight.
“Magnus,” said he, “has returned; I will conceal
myself.” He looked again. O, the joyful surprise !


ESCAPING FROM PERILS. 67
They were his own soldiers l—his City Guards!
On they came, covering the vast lawn before the
palace, the wide meadows, and reaching, he could
not tell how far, into the woods beyond l
Now who had sent this army to the rescue of
King Brondé? It was that same true friend, the
wood-cutter. He had hastened to the city and
sounded the alarm. The soldiers of the City Guard
heard, in the dead hours of the night, loud cries.
“The king ! The king is in danger | Arouse !
The king ! The king is buried alive I To arms!
To arms l’” And thus the whole city was aroused,
and the City Guards marched with all speed to
Long Forest. But when they saw him, alive and
well, standing between the great brazen lions which
guarded the palace gate, they were overcome with
joy, and made the forest ring with cries and loud
huzzas
I will now relate how the castle of Magnus was
burned, and his prisoners set free.
King Brondé first learned from the wood-cutter
the name of the country to which the robbers had
fled with their prisoners. He then sent messengers
to the king of that country, saying that he should
come with his soldiers to rescue his family and his
people, and demanding help.
Now this king was feeble, both in mind and body,


ESCAPING FROM PERILS. 69
And all were certain that it was not known even
to Magnus himself, for many inquiries about her
had been made by him, and large rewards offered,
but all in vain. It was known that four men had
set out with her from Long Forest, but not one
of these four men had been heard from since.
Grateful, then, as were the king and queen at
being restored to each other, their return home
was but sorrowful, for the joy of their life, their
darling Rosebud, was lost to them, and O, would
she ever, ever be found 2
But King Brondé and his soldiers and the whole
assembly must now depart for their own country.
Trumpets were sounded, drums beaten, bugle calls
rang loud and clear, and at dawn of the day word
was given to move forward.
Thus, with the blazing castle behind them, and
the glowing eastern sky before, they began their
journey home. A happy journey to the husbands
and wives, parents and children, so lately reunited,
but full of sadness to King Brondé and his Lily
Queen, mourning for their lost Rosebud!
Let us leave them, now, to find their way back
to Long Forest, while we learn how it fares with
their child, in the hut of the old woman.


70 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
C H A P T E R V III.
LIFE AT THE SEA-SHORE.
F Rupert had known more of this old woman,
he certainly would not have left Rosebud in
her care. The place where she lived was under
the control of a powerful lord, or governor, ap-
pointed by the king of that country. This lord
had in various parts of his dominions curious little
stone cages, very small stone cages, in which he
shut up such as offended him ; and of one of these
our old woman was the keeper. They were very
mysterious cages. No one knew where they were,
except their owner, their prisoners, and their keep-
ers. The approach to them was hidden. Several
of these were placed in an extensive wood, which
could be seen from the hut. It was called the
Enchanted Wood.
It was called the Enchanted Wood, on account
of sounds frequently heard there; sometimes sing-
ing, sometimes notes of a musical instrument,
and at other times sorrowful moans. The prison-
ers could, of course, have explained these sounds;
but as they were not free to do it, and no one else


LIFE AT THE SEA-SHORE. 71
could or would, it happened that the place obtained
the name of the Enchanted Wood. Besides being
the keeper of one of these cages, our old woman
was friendly with a number of bad characters from
whom she received stolen money and jewels, which
she hid for them in the cellar beneath her hut.
She was a little bent old woman, with thin gray
locks about her withered face, and always wore a
small blue blanket pinned over her head. Being
lame, she never went without her staff.
“What are you crying for 7" she said, as Rose-
bud sat weeping, after Rupert had said good by.
“What are you crying for 2 there, go to bed.”
And she pushed open the door of a closet which
contained one stool, and one little mattress of straw,
and one very small square window.
This was the best she could give Rosebud, -
Rosebud, so lately come from the splendid cham-
bers, the velvet cushions, the decorated walls, the
lofty ceilings, the soft couches of a palace, where
helpful servants were glad to do her bidding, and
where, better than all, she was blest with the love
of her dear father and mother. Poor little Rose-
bud? She thought, while crying herself to sleep,
that she would gladly live in the hut, could she
but see the pale face of her mother bending over
her for a good-night kiss, or lay her wéary head
upon her father's big shoulder, and feel his arms


74 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
you like that ? What a funny name! Rosebud 1
Where did you come from? How white your face
is! All but your cheeks, and they are the color
of these pink shells! And what a pretty green
robe -
But Rosebud did not tell Grump where she came
from. Rupert had told her it would not be well
for the old woman to find it out. For she might
take her to Magnus, in hopes of a reward.
Rosebud very soon became accustomed to the life
of the shore, could run about on the sands barefoot,
and lift her basketful with the rest. She never
grew weary of watching the sea when the wind was
high, or of picking up shells in the sands, or of being
rowed about in the little boats by Grump, in the
calm summer afternoons when work was over.
Still, she had many sad hours, and would have had
many more, only for the company of Grump, who
was always full of talk, and ready to help.
“O, if I only had a white face,” said he one day.
“A white face is so pretty. Would granny be very
angry, Rosebud, if I washed my face again **
Rosebud laughed at this.
“And why should your granny be angry” she
asked.
“Bess took some soap one day,” said he, “and
scrubbed my face, and it turned very red, and then


76 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
“That is very kind of you,” said Rosebud. “I
wonder what we shall call you. What does go well
with Rosebud 7”
Grump could n’t think of anything that went so
much with rosebuds as thorns. But that would
not do, for Rosebud said he was not in the least
like a thorn. At length she remembered a very
pretty song she had heard about the rose and the
myrtle. Suppose he should be called Myrtle.
How would he like that? O, very much, very
much indeed. And thus it was agreed that he
should be called Myrtle.
But granny did not shut the boy up or even
notice him at all. She probably had other matters
to trouble her. For every day she came home
very cross from the town, and sat crouching in the
corner, muttering, and poking the ashes with her
cane. Perhaps some prisoner had escaped from
her stone cage. Or perhaps she had heard that
the owners of the stolen jewels she had hidden
were in search of them. No one could tell.
So Myrtle grew cleaner and prettier and hap-
pier every day. And strangers, walking upon the
beach, often stopped to wonder at the strange love-
liness of the little barefoot boy and girl, as they ran
pattering along the sands with their wood-baskets.
Rosebud, with her pleasant face and gentle ways,
soon became a favorite with the children of the


LIFE AT THE SEA-SHORE. 77
shore. They were all eager to play with her, to
help her pick up wood and moss among the rocks,
to show her where the birds built, and often coaxed
her to their huts, that the family at home might
know this lovely little stranger. Thus she never
lacked for company.
But, as the summer wore away, she sickened for
home and friends, and in the midst of the happy
children felt all, all alone. And one day, one calm,
bright summer day, when she and Myrtle were
floating about in their little boat, which scarcely
moved, so still was the water, she told him her
whole history, - told it with sobs and tears and
broken words, which caused Myrtle to sigh and
weep too, although he strove to talk bravely, and
promised Rosebud that, when he was only one year
older, they would set out together to seek her
friends or to learn their fate. He himself was tired
of their gloomy little hut.
The hut, indeed, was but a cheerless home. For
as months passed, and still Rupert did not appear,
the old woman became angry that Rosebud should
be left so long, and no money sent. And she was
cruel to the child, and laid tasks upon her too .
heavy to bear. Bess and Judy, seeing that Rose-
bud was better liked than themselves, became envi-
ous. And they, too, gave her rough words and
sometimes blows.


78 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
“You pink-faced thing, you! You eat our
bread l’” they cried.
But not when Myrtle was by. They did not
dare. Her brave defender was Myrtle; for he be-
lieved the whole world could not produce another
so good, so kind, so lovely as their Rosebud.
Indeed, from the very first, this boy had seemed
to consider himself bound to shield from all harm
the delicate, gentle child, who had come among
them. He performed her rougher tasks, he made
his sisters afraid to ill-use her, and even one day
faced the old woman herself, and, when she was
about to strike Rosebud, caught the staff from her
handl
So, when he was by, Bess and Judy did not dare
show their ill temper. Neither did they dare give
him any other name than Myrtle when within his
reach. But sometimes, when they were safe be-
hind granny, they would call him “Grump.” Or,
if he were off a little way from the shore, in his
boat, they would sit upon the rocks, calling out,
“Grump! Grump! how is your health, Grump !”


THE FLOWER GARDEN. 79
CHAP TER Ix.
THE FLOWER-GARDEN.
NE day Myrtle met Rosebud coming from the
fishermen's huts, looking quite sorrowful.
“Pretty little Rosebud,” said he, “what troubles
you, I pray?”
“Alas!” said Rosebud, “I have now nothing to
bestow. I have seen a little lame child, and a poor,
suffering, sick young maiden, and a pale woman,
dressed all in black, who weeps every day. And I
have nothing to bestow. At the palace were so
many beautiful things, and gold in plenty. The
wood-cutters’ children were so pleased when I
brought them gifts | Now I have nothing! Not
even a flower But, Myrtle,” she cried, “we will
plant flowers! and they will grow ! And we will
gather such sweet nosegays l Nosegays and gar-
lands for everybody' for all love flowers. Flowers
such as I plucked in my own garden. Bright,
blooming, fragrant flowers l’” she continued, mourn-
fully, her voice growing every moment fainter and
more sorrowful. Myrtle feared she was going to
cry, and so made haste to answer.


80 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
“But we have no seeds. And, besides, winter is
coming; flowers die in the winter.”
“True,” said Rosebud; “we will wait till spring.
The rich man, who lives behind the hill yonder,
has a fine garden. I have looked through at the
beds of flowers, often ; and I shall beg seeds from
the gardener.”
“But the dog!” cried Myrtle. “His great,
black, barking dog! he might tear you in pieces !”
“But I shall pat his head,” said Rosebud; “and
I shall say, ‘Good doggie l’ It is not wise to be
always afraid.”
Winter was now approaching. Storms were fre-
quent, cold winds blew, the sea became rough, and
the high waves came roaring, tumbling, foaming to
the shore. Snow fell, fishing-boats were hauled up
out of reach of the tide, and soon the beach was
covered with cakes of ice. The children were often
compelled to remain for days and weeks inside the
hut.
For employment, Rosebud began to make various
things of the shells collected in summer. The sick
girl had taught her. Beautiful shells they were;
pink, yellow, purple, and white, and very pretty
boxes, baskets, vases they made. Even Bess and
Judy begged to learn, and Myrtle helped too.
“And now we have something to bestow !” cried
-*
r
2-
A
r
*
2.
º
º


THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 81
Rosebud, one day. “This, now, shall be for the
little lame child. She will look up so pleasantly,
with her soft brown eyes | And the pale woman in
black, who is weeping always, she shall have this
small, pure white basket. Perhaps she may smile
for once.”
“No 1" cried the old woman, looking up from the
ashes, –“ no, I say! They shall be sold, -sold in
the town l Can you tell me where your bread is to
come from ?” -
So all the pretty things were taken to the town
and sold. And the old woman, finding they brought
money, compelled them to work every stormy day
until the shells were gone. But whenever it was
possible to leave the house they were made to pick
up drift-wood as usual. Bitter cold work it was,
creeping among the ice-cakes and over the slippery
rocks |
The days when granny was away were happy
days for them. They could then sing their songs,
tell their stories, play their plays, and invite to their
hut the little children of the shore, without fearing
blows from the old staff.
In the summer Rosebud had taken very little
notice of the doings of granny. She only knew, that,
although appearing quite lame, she went often to the
town ; that when at home she did little but poke
in the ashes and smoke her pipe; and now Rosebud
4 * E.


THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 83
taken from the palace, she wore a green dress be-
sprinkled with diamonds. Now, on the day in which
Rupert had taken her to the hut, while waiting in
the wood for the approach of evening, Rosebud, at
his request, gave him those diamonds, that he might
with them pay the expenses of his journey. And,
had he known their real value, all might have gone
well with him ; but, as he by by no means knew the
worth of these jewels, all went ill with him.
For at an inn of some great city he offered one
of them for a loaf of bread, two cuts of bacon, and
a night's lodging.
“You thief!” cried the innkeeper, and called
an officer of justice, who arrested him upon the
spot. The unlucky Rupert was stripped of his jew-
els and thrown into prison, where he was lying, sad
and miserable, all the time his little girl was thinking
how strange it was that he came not as he had
promised.
But, as spring drew near, Rosebud gave up all her
thinking and her wondering, and began hoping. She
hoped the weather would be mild, hoped granny
would let her have a garden, hoped the dog would
not bite, hoped the gardener would not refuse the
seeds, hoped every one would come up, hoped the
high winds would not blow them over, hoped the
plants would bud, and the buds would blossom, and


84 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
the blossoms would look lovely, smell sweet, and
delight everybody.
The snow now began to melt, and the grass to
spring up in the fields above the beach. Leaves
came out upon the trees, – red at first, and tender,
but soon so bright and green that the birds came
back to build among them. The days grew longer,
the sun shone higher in the heavens at noonday.
The fishermen again launched their boats upon the
waters, now no longer dark and ice-bound, but
brightly blue, sparkling in the sunlight.
The planting season had come. There was no
need of longer putting off their grand project. The
ground was already soft. Myrtle thought it better
not to ask granny, lest she should say no, but to
work in the very early mornings, before the others
were stirring. This would not interfere with their
daily tasks.
They dug up the ground, and brought basketfuls
of soil from beyond the beach; for the hut stood in
a barren, Sandy spot.
The dog did not bite; he was chained. The
gardener was a rough man. When he saw Rose-
bud coming, he caught up his stick, and cried, “Be
off! you —”
But when he looked down into her gentle, plead-
ing face, as it was upturned to him, he left the sen-
tence unfinished, and said, quite mildly, “Do you
want anything of me?”


THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 85
“Please, sir, some flower-seeds, for my garden,
sir,” said Rosebud.
“Humph!” cried he. “And what will you
pay?”
“I will pay you two shell-baskets,” said Rosebud,
—“a pink and a white shell-basket; and here they
are,” — for she had made them that morning to
bring. -
“Hal” cried he. “These will please my wife
Here, take the seeds.”
And he gave Rosebud her apron full.
And when Myrtle returned with the old fisher-
man, who had before dawn taken him off to fish in
his boat, she ran down to meet him, and to display
all these treasures. And long the two sat together
upon the rocks, gazing with wonder at the tiny
atoms from which such beautiful things were to
grow.
The garden was once more dug over, and its sur-
face smoothed. And by the next fine day their
seeds were snug in the ground, waiting patiently, as
seeds do always, for their time to come up.
Now that the snow was gone and the weather
mild, the children of the shore could pat along on
the sands again; and, hearing of the wonderful
garden, they came often to the hut, to watch the
planting of the seeds, and to see what might happen
next. - 4


86 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
There was great joy, therefore, along the shore,
when the first pale, tender sprouts appeared above
the ground, and all came running to see. For
never before had there been a flower-bed upon the
beach. And as for Rosebud and Myrtle, they
could hardly bear to be a single hour away, lest
some little green stranger should come to town in
their absence.
Those were the days when the pewter platters
got but few scrubbings, and when the broom came
to but little wear; when the pretty shells were neg-
lected, and the drift-wood was tumbled hastily into
the baskets.
O, when would the flowers come 2 What color?
How large 2 Fragrant? Would they last?
“”T will be a pity to pluck them,” said Rosebud,
“after they have taken so much pains to grow.”
“But then they would die on the stalk, you
know,” said Myrtle.
And it was therefore agreed that the flowers
should be cut off, no matter how lovely.
And many sick people might have been cheered
by them, and many a dark room brightened, had not
something happened to prevent it all. It was a
strange adventure, this that happened to our Rose-
bud, and should have a chapter by itself.


THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 87
C H A P T E R X.
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
NE night Rosebud
was awakened in
the middle of the night /
by the moon shining full º
in her face; and, while
lying there awake, she
heard a noise of some
one moving in the next
room. Presently the out-
er door shut, and the
footsteps were heard out- i.
side.
Rosebud sprang to her
little window, and saw
the old woman hobbling
away quite fast, and car-
rying a lighted lantern.
Now Rosebud had, be-
sides a whole heart full
of love, two other things
very good in their place,
namely, great curiosity


88 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
and great courage. The first of these caused her
to wonder why granny should carry a lighted lan-
tern on such a bright night, and the second to
follow and find out for herself.
Throwing an old cloak about her, she hastened
out, and caught sight of the old woman disappearing
over the brow of a hill. Running quite fast, she
gained the top, and saw granny with her cane fast
crossing the meadow beyond.
After the meadow came another hill, then a hol-
low, then still another hill very steep, and then a
wide strip of barren land called “The Plains.”
Beyond this was the Enchanted Wood. And it
was towards this Wood that the old woman directed
her steps, – Rosebud following not far behind, her
little bare feet never heeding the stones.
But very suddenly granny disappeared. It
seemed to Rosebud that the old woman must have
sunk into the earth. She came to the very spot
where the flutter of her blue blanket had a moment
before been seen, but could find no trace of her.
It was very near the edge of the wood. But
granny could not have entered, for just there the
thicket was thorny and tangled, and not even the
crack of a twig or the rustle of a leaf had Rosebud
heard.
“I am very far from home,” thought the little
girl, looking round, “and in the middle of the night


90 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
She entered the Wood and rambled on and on,
taking any path which offered, and while plucking
the lovely flowers, and also the purple berries, for-
got that the hours were flying so swiftly; and
when at last she became weary, and would have
returned, there appeared no way of getting from the
Wood. Many paths were tried, but all in vain; and
at length, overcome with fatigue, she sank down
upon a mossy bank to rest.
But she was hardly seated before she heard, not
far off, a voice singing. It was a young girl's voice,
very sweet, but full of sadness.
“Alone, alone !
Alas, my true love has gone !
To the wars he is marching on,
And I am alone !”
Looking in the direction of the voice, Rosebud
saw, a few yards from her, what seemed to be a pile
of rocks surrounded by trees. She stepped softly
that way. When quite near, some one spoke —
some young girl—in gentle tones, and said, “What
do you seek, little one?”
“Only to know who sang so sweetly,” replied
Rosebud, faintly.
“And if you knew,” said the voice, “would you,
if you could, do the singer a service ’’’
“O yes,” cried Rosebud, “and with all my
heart. But I am only a little girl, - only Rose-


92 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
at all; for then he would inherit the kingdom. I
sought to escape, and that is why I am here, al-
though he says it is that I may forget. Is this
a place to forget 7 O no. For what says the
song?
“When the wind goes sobbing by,
I think my love doth sigh,
Doth sigh for me.
“When the sun is brightly gleaming,
Then I sit, dreaming, dreaming
He smiles on me.
“When the rain drops tear by tear
Do fall, I think my dear
Doth weep for me.
“When the sea so sadly moans,
I think in mournful tones
He calls for me.”
“But I will escape from here,” she said, sud-
denly ceasing her song. “I will flee to my native
home; for there are those who will be my guides
when once at liberty. And you will do me a ser-
vice, Rosebud, as you promised?”
“O yes, indeed!” cried Rosebud; “but how 7
Where is the door? Where is your little maid 2
What is your name * *
“My name is Bertha. My little maid is asleep.
There is no door, – at least not here. At the edge
of the Wood is a mossy gray rock. Behind this


A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 95
O the sea, the rippling sea!
The bright, the glancing waves for me !
Go build me a boat
All lightly to float,
And away o'er the waters so free
We’ll row, we’ll row, we'll cheerily row !’
“Yes, little Rosebud, a boat Are there no
boats upon the shore ?”
“Many boats,” said Rosebud. “O, very many
boats | ?”
“All will then be well,” said Bertha. “My
father taught me to row, and to ride, and to hunt,
and to aim the bow. We shall reach our native
home, for with gold can be bought a trusty guide.
All will go well. And now, sweet Rosebud,
farewell. Be cautious, but at the same time be
brave. Tell no one what has happened to-day.
Adieu ! ” -
Rosebud promised most faithfully, then bade adieu
to Bertha, and ran hastily along the first path which
offered; but soon found herself again bewildered
among thickets of tangled vines and thorny bushes,
through which no way seemed to open.
Still it was a pleasant spot. Flowering shrubs
were growing there, and berries in plenty. A little
brook fell over some rocks near by, and Rosebud
stooped to drink of its waters. Squirrels ran nim-
bly up the trees, peeping out with their bright eyes
from among the leaves. While watching these, as


º A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 97
now !” And she reached forward, hand extended,
to grasp it.
But the bird still flew a little farther, and a little
farther, now in this direction, now in that, and she
was upon the point of giving it up altogether, when
it began to sing so charmingly l
“O, now I cannot leave you !” she cried. And
so kept on and on, until she felt at last that the
power of turning away from it was gone, and that,
wherever the bird led, there must she follow.
A long while he flew, and most charmingly he
sang the while. But Rosebud grew very weary,
and was about to sink down upon the grass in de-
spair of ever again finding her way home, when,
looking around her, she found herself quite near
the spot where she had entered the Wood in the
morning.
“And now, fair bird, won’t you go home with
me?” she cried; but the fine-feathered bird had
flown.
Rosebud then searched out the mossy gray rock
and the flat stone, which she found herself quite
able to move.
But it was now long past noon.
“I must wait no longer,” she said, “for Bess and
Judy and Myrtle will be wondering what has be-
fallen me.”
Arrived home, she was greeted with joy by Myr-
5 G.


98 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD. *
tle, and with endless questions from all. To which
her only answer was, that she had found berries in
plenty, also lovely flowers, and had seen a fine-feath-
ered bird which sang sweetly.


MEETING AND PARTING. 99
C H A P T E R XI.
MEETING AND PARTING.
HE next night Rosebud lay awake, anxiously
waiting for the hour when granny should go
forth with her lantern. Her heart beat quickly at
the thought of what must that night be done, of all
that Bertha expected from her, and she only a little
girl, only Rosebud. .
But courage was by no means wanting. And,
besides, she was very curious to see the sweet singer,
—the pleasant-voiced maiden, who, she felt sure,
must be wondrously beautiful.
At length footsteps were heard in the next room,
the outer door closed, and Rosebud could see from
her window the old woman hobbling away to the
Wood. She followed, well wrapped in her cloak.
Everything was the same as before,—the dew upon
the grass, the stillness, the brightness, all the same.
Having reached the Wood, Rosebud watched very
closely where the old woman disappeared, and en-
tered, behind her, the opening of which Bertha had
spoken. She remembered the ten stone stairs, count-
ed them one by one, and reached the bottom in safety.


100 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
Granny was making her way along the passage; at
length she paused, and set down the lantern. Stoop-
ing over, she removed a stone from the wall near the
ground; from behind this stone she drew out a heavy
brass key, with which she proceeded to open the iron
door.
Rosebud felt a strong desire to follow still farther,
and, if possible, get just one glimpse of the mysterious
singer and her little maid, but deemed it wiser to fol-
low Bertha's directions and return home at once.
Not many days after, granny, one fine morning,
took her staff and her bundle, and started for the
town. “Now,” thought Rosebud, “now, if ever,
must I fulfil my promise.”
And when Myrtle had gone off for a day's fishing,
as granny now often compelled him to do; and when
she had piled up her drift-wood, and scrubbed the
platters, and sanded the floor, and looked at her
plants, and driven the geese to water, — she has-
tened away over hills and valleys to the Wood, as
she had often done before.
The flat stone was soon found, and, after some
exertion, removed. Carefully descending the ten
steep stairs, she found herself in the narrow passage
below. If she had but thought of the lantern tº But
it was now too late for that.
With both hands extended, she groped along the


MEETING AND PARTING. 101
passage to the iron door. Here, stooping down, she
soon found the loose stone. The heavy brass key
was drawn forth, and applied to the lock. But, al-
though it turned freely, the door would not open.
What was now to be done 2 There was no time to
lose. Suppose some chance traveller were to find
the entrance 7 or suppose granny herself should
happen that way?
Again she grasped the key, again it turned in the
lock, and again the door would not open.
“Berthal Berthal” she called. But Bertha
could not hear.
When almost ready to give up in despair, she
heard, not far off, a sound like the warbling of a bird,
and could very clearly distinguish these words: —
“Courage, maiden, never fear,
All is well, no danger near;
To the left now turn the key,
Three times three, three times three.”
With new courage Rosebud began turning the
key to the left, and at the ninth turning the door
swung slowly open.
But there was yet a long way to travel. A long,
long way it seemed to Rosebud. But she thought
of her promise to the sorrowful maiden, and kept
bravely on.
Presently she heard voices singing, and knew
then that the end of the long passage was near.
She called aloud, “Berthal Berthal’’


102 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
“Is it you? Is it Rosebud?” cried a voice.
“Hasten, there is yet another iron door.”
“But how shall I enter?” called out Rosebud.
“Feel for the bolt. You can easily slip the bolt,”
said Bertha.
The bolt yielded readily, the door flew open, and
Rosebud felt herself embraced with kisses and with
tears of joy.
For all the dim light, Rosebud could easily per-
ceive how beautiful was her new friend. And she
stood gazing, like one entranced, at her dark, flash-
ing eyes, her black, braided hair, and her rosy red
cheeks. Upon her head was a small velvet cap of
scarlet, and the facings of her dark velvet jacket
were of the same color. She was but little taller
than Rosebud, but was straight and well formed,
and the long, dark braids of hair hung below her
waist. A small plume, fastened to the little cap by
a cluster of jewels, drooped gracefully at one side.
Her face wore a merry look in spite of her troubles,
and when she smiled—O, Rosebud thought noth-
ing could be more beautiful than her smile !
“This is my dear little maid,” said she, – “my
faithful, loving little maid, who will never desert me.”
The little maid now came forward, and was, so
Rosebud thought, almost as charming as her mis-
tress. She was certainly as ready to escape, and i
any way Bertha might choose. -


MEETING AND PARTING. 103
It was arranged that Rosebud should leave them,
and return to the hut, lest some one should come
out in search of her. Late in the afternoon Bertha
and her little maid would venture forth, taking care
to lock the door behind them, and leave the great
brass key in its place. They would remain con-
cealed in the wood until evening, and would then
proceed with all haste to the shore, where Rosebud
promised to meet them and guide them to a boat.
That night there was no sleep for Rosebud. The
moment that granny left the hut with her lantern,
she arose and stepped out softly upon the sands.
The stars were out, but the moon had not yet risen,
—which, for those who wished to remain hid, was all
the better. Rosebud walked timidly down to the
water's edge, her little heart beating quickly, for
she knew that Bertha and her little maid were then
on their way to the shore. She sat down upon the
rocks to wait. The time seemed long. Had harm
befallen them 2 Perhaps they were lost in the
woods, or had met with robbers, or granny had found
them.
But as Rosebud sat there upon the rocks, listening
to the dash of the waves, fearing she knew not
what, though hoping all would be well, she heard
footsteps near, and at the same moment a low,
sweet voice singing, —


106 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
;
we must now part, and you be left here so sad and
lonely. May my dearest hopes perish if I do not
yet render you good service But see the moon
is rising. One more kiss Farewell !”
They launched their boat, and, stepping in, pushed
boldly off from shore. The rising moon threw its
beams across the sea. Each little wave danced and
sparkled in the light.
Farther, farther away sped the boat; and Rose-
bud, listening to the dash of the oars, could faintly dis-
tinguish the words of Bertha's farewell, which was
a reply to Rosebud's question, whether they were
not afraid to sail away thus alone.
“O, not alone.
The moon shall guide me o'er the sea ;
The little stars are friends to me;
And the dancing waves, so light and free,
O, they shall bear me company
Farewell, now fare thee well !”
Fainter and fainter grew the music. The boat
was now but a speck upon the waters.
And thus did Bertha and her little maiden float
away in the moonlight out upon the wide sea!


THE CHILDREN IN TROUBLE. 107
C H A P T E R X II.
T H E CHILD R EN IN T R O U BLE.
HEN the little boat could no longer be seen,
Rosebud went sorrowfully back to the hut
and to her bed. And there she lay, trembling, ex-
pecting every moment the return of the old woman.
But day dawned; the sun rose, the children also; and
still she had not appeared.
What had become of granny?
Rosebud and Myrtle permitted themselves to lin-
ger long about the flower-garden. Many of the
plants had budded, a few had bloomed. Rosebud
bent over them, touching tenderly their soft green
leaves, and persuading them, so Myrtle affirmed, to
grow faster, and even, as he further declared, whis-
pering to them of what pretty color they should tint
their blossoms
The children of the shore, with their baskets, had
gathered around to talk with Rosebud, to wonder
at the growth of the plants, and to admire all they
saw. Every child must examine every flower that
had bloomed, marvel at its beauty, and all were
longing for the next buds to open.


108 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
While they were thus assembled, talking earnest-
ly, granny suddenly appeared among them.
Her dress was torn, the blue blanket had fallen
from her head, the gray locks streamed about her
withered face, and her eyes glared fiercely. The
children with looks of affright shrank from the old
woman. Coming near them, she shook her fist
angrily at Rosebud.
“And is it thus you work when I am away?”
she cried. “I’ll teach you !”
And with that she hobbled in among the flowers,
and began beating them with her staff, pulling them
up, and throwing them far and wide. In a few mo-
ments the pretty garden was destroyed
Poor Rosebud I she had loved them so! It
seemed as if those were parts of herself which were
thus cruelly tossed upon the sands. So much had
she lived with them, caressed them, talked to them,
that they were to her almost like living beings.
But not a word did she say, neither did one of the
rest dare speak to the old woman in her fury.
“Be off! Be off now ! the whole pack of you! .
Take your baskets and be gone, I say!” she cried,
stamping her foot with rage.
Mournfully the little group moved toward the
shore, Myrtle and Rosebud among them. For they
dared not stay, even to witness the death of their
flowers.


THE CHILDREN IN TROUBLE. 109
When they returned at noon, granny was again
absent. But there lay the flowers, their tender
green leaves, with a few bright blossoms, drooping,
scorching, dying in the noonday sun.
Rosebud bent over them, hoping some might be
found which, if replanted, would yet live. But no,
the scorching heat had done its work.
Sorrowfully then they gathered up the remains
of the dear plants which had given them so much
delight, and buried them, with some tears, in the
same spot they had blessed with their short-lived
beauty, - the spot now saddened by their cruel
death.
Even their fear of the angry old woman could not
prevent the children of the shore from gathering
there when they knew what Myrtle and Rosebud
were doing; and they looked so mournful when
the flowers one after another were covered with the
dark earth !
“The funeral of the flowers | * said one little
child, sadly, as she smoothed the surface with her
hand.
This same little child, during the afternoon,
begged of a countryman seeds of pretty grasses,
which were strewn thickly over the spot.
Even Bess and Judy were sorry for Rosebud.
For as the sun warms the hard rock, and melts the


THE CHILDREN IN TROUBLE. 111
And in this time of her trouble they were even
willing to do something to comfort her. At twilight,
just after the seeds were sown over the grave of the
flowers, they came, bringing two little feeble plants,
which they had found in a moist spot, under the
shelter of a rock. The damp earth still clung to
their roots. These were replanted in a hidden cor-
ner, and watered daily. One died. The other
lived and grew and blossomed. And its flower was
a delicate white lily.
Myrtle, one morning, found Rosebud bending
sadly over this flower, scarcely raising her eyes at
his approach.
“I think it must,” said she, at last, looking up,
and smiling through her tears.
“Must what?” asked Myrtle.
“Must mean,” said Rosebud, “that she is yet
alive.”
Great was the surprise of the old woman at find-
ing the cage empty, her bird flown. The bolt was
secured, the iron door locked, the key safe, nothing
out of the way except — the prisoners.
Thinking they must be concealed near, she
looked in the woods about, beat the bushes, got
tangled in the thicket, scratched by the briers, tore
her garments, but did not give up the search until
long after sunrise in the morning.


THE CHILDREN IN TROUBLE. 113
came to know, and to watch for, on the journey,
shone some nights on her right, and at others on her
left.
But however that might be, she said, they must
go. “Yes,” said Myrtle, “that certainly is quite
plain. And we will go as little pedlers, selling our
shell-work; or perhaps as little singers, singing our
songs. And at every great town we will ask,
‘Who is the king of this country?’ ‘Can you
tell us any news of the Good King Brondé?' We
will begin at once to collect the shells. And as we
journey along we shall rest often in the shade of the
trees, by the wayside, or on some flowery bank, and
there make our shell-work.”
Thus all was well arranged.
But before they were quite ready to begin this
pleasant journey, something very unexpected hap-
pened to Rosebud; very unexpected, but very good.
Indeed, had she been allowed her choice of all the
delightful things that might happen, she could have
chosen nothing more delightful than this.
But now, while Myrtle and Rosebud are so busy
with their shells and with their wise plans, it will,
perhaps, be well to inquire concerning the Good
King Brondé and his Lily Queen, and whether they
reached home in safety.


THE WHITE LAMB. 117
prince. How boldly he guides the boat! It touch-
es the shore. A little girl runs smiling to meet him
Her fair curls stream in the wind. Her teeth are
like pearls; her eye is like the violet; her cheek
like the rose. Gayly flutter her green robes. The
boy is glad to see the little girl, running to meet
him. He calls out to her, “Rosebud | Rosebud l’”
The queen had stood, bending forward, her eyes
fastened upon the withered face before her, hardly
daring to breathe, lest some precious word be lost.
Her excitement grew every moment more intense,
and when the last word, “Rosebud l’’ was spoken,
she uttered a cry of joy, and sank, half fainting, to
the ground.
Upon recovering, the Lily Queen found herself
alone in the hovel. No dark-robed old woman or
pretty white lamb was to be seen. Neither could
it be told how long she had lain there.
But she felt sure that, during the time, a form
had bent over her, and spoken these words: —
“Travel towards the setting sun, as far as the
shores of Silver Lake. From this lake flows a
stream. Follow this stream to the sea.”


118 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
C H A P T E R XIV.
A LONG JOURNEY.
ING BRONDE had been so often disappointed,
that he was, at first, unwilling to set forth
upon so very doubtful a journey; and especially as
no person could be found who could tell in what
direction lay this unknown Silver Lake.
In order, however, to divert the mind of the
queen, he laid aside his doubts, and commanded
that preparations for travelling be made at once.
The grand state coach, all covered with gold and
silver, and drawn by twenty white horses, was got
in readiness, and also other magnificent coaches; for
many lords and nobles of the court were to go in
attendance, and also a band of soldiers.
On they travelled, for days and weeks. Many
gave up all hope, and spoke of returning. Beautiful
lakes had they passed, but thus far not one bearing
the name Silver Lake had been found. And the
king said one day: —
“My dear Lily Queen, this Silver Lake, with
its stream flowing to the sea, – was it not all a
dream 7 Shall we chase a vision ? Let us return,
and no longer cherish vain hopes.”


A LONG JOURNEY. 119
The queen, however, would not be persuaded.
A little farther, she said, and yet a little farther;
but at last agreed, that if, by the morrow's sunset,
no Silver Lake was found, they would then re-
turn.
The morrow was past. Bravely had they trav-
elled on, and, just as the sun went down, were ready
to halt in a poor little village.
The sky was all aglow with the brilliant hues of
sunset. In the west lay clouds of purple and gold,
and of all radiant colors. The Lily Queen gazed
mournfully at this fine show. For the morrow was
now past, the sunset hour had come, and she could
no longer ask to continue the journey. This last
hope, then, was gone.
But while her gaze was fixed upon a broad, high
hill, which stood darkly up against the western sky,
she perceived, advancing steadily over it, a long pro-
cession or company of people. Perhaps, thought she,
a troop of hostile soldiers, or perhaps some robber
band to waylay us. She distinctly saw plumes
waving, also banners streaming, and heard the
sound of music.
She hastened to the king. He and his attend-
ants were already alarmed, and were watching, with
some anxiety, the oncoming of this host. The sol-
diers, well armed, stood ready to receive them.


122 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
“But where is the stream which flows to the
sea 7” asked the king.
The stream which flowed to the sea was, at first,
only a little brook. It ran out from the lake, be-
neath mosses and bending grass; hid itself, for a
long way, among thick, overhanging bushes, but at
length came dancing out into the sunshine, and went
its way through meadow and wood singing its own
happy song. -
And soon it was joined by other little singing
brooks, all going the same way. Thus it happened
that, after travelling many miles, the small stream
became a river, and flowed to the sea.
But by no means in a direct course, or always by
pleasant ways. It ran here and there, doubling,
curving, winding, now through tangled forests, now
sweeping around the base of a mountain, now leap-
ing a precipice or dashing itself against the ragged
rocks, thus leading our travellers a tiresome and
oftentimes a dangerous journey; for there were
mountains to climb, roads to cut through the forest,
and frequently a hasty bridge to be thrown across a
Stream.
And one night while resting in a small village
they narrowly escaped a great danger; for, without
the assistance of the king, — Bertha's father, — they
must have all been taken prisoners. This danger
was from Magnus, King Brondé's old enemy.


124 • THE KING'S IſLY AND ROSEBUD.
Bertha begged the Queen to calm herself, and to
remember that even if they found the little fishing-
hamlet, it was by no means sure that Rosebud would
still be living there. Rupert might have come for
her, or else she and Myrtle might have begun their
travels in search of her home, as they had planned.
The queen only answered by a sign to go on
faster, faster |
On arriving at the summit of the next hill, the
sea, the broad blue sea, lay spread before them. Its
waves came dashing upon the sandy shores below.
They saw the white-sailed ships go by, and the
little boats tossing upon the waters, near the shore.
One is guided by a boy. There are children sitting
on the rocks. A little girl runs down to the water's
edge. ,
King Brondé and the queen dared no longer
look. Unable to speak or hardly to breathe, they
sank back among the cushions, and there awaited in
silence what might be the fulfilment, or might be
the destruction, of their hopes.


126 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
Presently the boat appeared in sight. On it came,
bounding over the waves, and rapidly approached
the shore. All the children stood still, watching the
little boat, and admiring the skill with which Myrtle
directed its course.
All but Rosebud. She, as was her custom, ran
down to meet him at the water's edge, her fair curls
streaming, her green robes fluttering in the wind.
She laughed aloud and clapped her hands, while
waiting for Myrtle to call to her from the boat.
“Rosebud l Rosebud l’’ he cried, at last, as the
boat touched the shore, “such a catch of fish l we
will take some to the town, and spread some to dry
on the rocks, and some we will — ”
But here he was interrupted by loud cries from
the children, who came running to them, calling out,
that there were, O so many horses, and soldiers, and
coaches larger than their hut, all covered with gold
and silver, and great lords in purple and scarlet with
gay feathers and jewels, all sparkling and shining!
Rosebud and Myrtle must run quick | Quick!
But there was no need to run far, for all these
wonders were speedily drawing near. A few mo-
ments, and soldiers, chariots, and horses covered the
sands. -
The great state coach of King Brondé was in
advance of all the rest. Its door flew open, and
Rosebud, with a cry of joy, sprang forward.


TEARS AND SMILES. 129
Then Rosebud told how good Myrtle was, and
how they had played together, and sailed together,
and of their plans, and of all his kindness to her
ever since she came to the shore.
“And why not take Myrtle 2" asked the Lily
Queen; “surely our coach is big enough to hold
him, and surely our palace is big enough to receive
him, and surely our hearts are big enough to love
one who has been so good to our Rosebud l’’
“Very true!” cried King Brondé.
Rosebud flew once more to the clump of bushes.
“Myrtle ! Myrtle !” she cried, “you are to go
with us ! to go l to go! to go! In my father's
coach And live in my father's palace Myrtle !
do you hear?”
No wonder she asked, “Do you hear?” For the
poor boy was so overwhelmed, first by his grief,
and then by his joy, that he seemed to have lost all
power of speech and motion.
But Rosebud urged him to rise, and then led him
to the same spot where she had once advised him to
wash his face in the spring. And here she bade
him bathe his swollen eyes, and smooth his hair,
that the king and queen might see what a hand-
some Myrtle he was.
But alas ! so red was his face and so inflamed
by weeping, that she was obliged to tell them this
herself. And they were quite ready to believe it.
6 * I


130 THE KING's LILY AND ROSEBUD.
King Brondé now gave Rosebud money to dis-
tribute among her late companions, and there was
not one who did not get a bright gold piece, or who
did not preserve it carefully as a remembrance of
one they had loved so well. Bess and Judy, at
Rosebud's request, were given in charge to some of
the attendants, that they might also be taken home,
and provided for in a comfortable manner.
All now being ready, the joyful party entered the
coach. Drums beat, bugles played, the twenty
white horses arched their proud necks and stepped
gayly off to the sound of the music. And side by
side with the great state coach came another royal
chariot, wherein sat Bertha, smiling-faced Bertha,
with her father the king. Behind followed all their
lords, nobles, attendants, and bands of soldiers, –
a numerous train.
The children of the shore stood watching till the
last plume of the last soldier disappeared, then
turned sorrowfully toward their homes.
Who can speak of the happiness of that homeward
journey : When the Lily Queen could spare Rose-
bud from her own embrace, King Brondé would sit
for hours with her clasped in his arms, looking down
into her face, and stroking her hair softly and ten-
derly, as if each touch conveyed a blessing. And


TEARS AND SMILES. 131
as for Myrtle, so great was his joy, that he scarcely
knew whether he were waking or dreaming. So he
rolled himself up in one corner of the coach, gazing
at the pale Lily Queen, and the big handsome King
Brondé in his royal robes and his golden crown, and
wondered how long they would let the poor little
fisher-boy stay in their palace.
Thus this great company journeyed home. As
soon as the towers of the city came in sight, King
Brondé ordered a bright flag to be raised, for this
was the signal agreed upon in case the search should
prove successful. As they drew nearer, troops of
mounted soldiers came out to meet them ; also
bands of music and a great multitude of lords and
ladies of the court, in their fine gilded coaches, all
in grand array. Also one hundred young nobles,
in shining steel armor, and all mounted upon jet
black horses, whose trappings were of pure gold.
Like a triumphal procession they entered the city,
bugles playing, trumpets sounding, drums beating,
banners streaming, horses prancing, plumes waving,
and were met by the people with wild huzzas. And
years and years after, mothers related to their chil-
dren the story of the wonderful day when good
King Brondé brought home his lost child.


132 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
C EIAP T E R XVI.
A DISCOVERY.
EARS passed by, and happy years they were.
Rosebud, as she grew older, was the same
sweet-voiced, kindly maiden, winning love from all.
People gazing at her beaming face asked themselves
often what it was that so charmed them there. This
which they could not name was the love-light, which
shone through her eyes and lighted up her counte-
nance; for the holy fire burned always in her heart,
making her whole life pure and bright. The idol of
the court, praised, petted, flattered, still was she not
spoiled. Ah, Rosebud was far too modest, too hum-
ble for that. Real love not only brightens, but
purifies, keeping away all evil.
As King Brondé had no son, he adopted Myrtle
for his own. He provided for him the best in-
structors, and treated him in all things as if he
were really his child.
And the youth grew up, stately and handsome as
a young prince. He mingled freely with the young
nobles of the court, and, by his gentle bearing and
his true manliness, became a favorite with every
One.


136 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
The kings of all the countries round about came
with their queens, and their courts, and their mount-
ed guards, and their bands of music, and their
waving banners. There were illuminations in the
cities, and fires blazed upon the mountain-tops.
Prisoners were released, and gold and silver thrown
by handfuls to the poor. Tables were spread in the
streets, that everybody might feast.
Happy they who could obtain entrance into the
palace. Happier still they who were admitted into
that grand apartment where the marriage rites were
performed. Happiest of all they who obtained a
glimpse of the charming bride.
She wore, at Myrtle's request, a robe of the very
palest green, which was besprinkled with diamonds.
Upon her fair curls rested a coronet of rosebuds,
every leaf of which was a separate jewel.
But nothing was so lovely, so charming to all, as
her own sweet face, expressing, as might plainly be
seen, the most perfect love and the most perfect
happiness.
All her old friends were present. Bess and Judy
were there, side by side with her own sisters. The
wood-cutter's children were there, the little boy and
girl whom Rosebud saved from the boat. The
wood-cutter himself was there. For his services on
the day and night of the lion hunt, in Long Forest,
he had been well rewarded, and he now lived on a


A DISCOVERY. 137
fine estate, with gold in plenty, and servants to
command.
Even Rupert was present. For when released
from prison, he sought the old woman's hut, and
after learning from the fishermen all that had hap-
pened, he went immediately to King Brondé's
dominions, and obtained employment in the grounds
of the palace, that he might be always near Rosebud.
At her request, he was made head-gardener of her
flower-beds, and brought her every morning a fresh
nosegay; and was welcomed with smiles, which, it
may be remembered, was a part of the nice little
plan he had laid when acting as guide.
Bertha, too, was there, the dark-eyed, bright-
faced Bertha; and charming enough she looked
too, in her bright colors, and her little jewelled cap.
And happy enough, too; for the lover came safely
back from the wars, and that same lover, now her
husband, was by her side, and as happy as herself.
The Green Fairy, too, was there, though no one
knew it, in the form of a fine-feathered bird, perched
high on the top of a marble column. Somebody
else, too, was there, who will shortly speak for her-
self.
After the marriage ceremony had been performed,
the whole company repaired to the most spacious
hall in the palace, where was served up a sumptuous
banquet. The tables were loaded with dishes of


138 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
solid gold, and with crystal ornaments. Sweetmeats,
cordials, and spices of richest fragrance were brought
from the remotest corners of the earth. Players of
musical instruments, hidden from sight, sent forth
their softest, sweetest strains.
Roses were everywhere, —roses and myrtle; in
rich vases upon the table, among the decorations of
the walls, in hanging-baskets, in the hands of marble
statues, festooned from the ceiling, wreathed about
the white columns. Roses and myrtle everywhere.
The air was filled with their fragrance. And every-
body said, how beautiful were the myrtle and the
rose together.
At the close of the banquet, King Brondé ob-
served that the great king who sat at his left hand
appeared sad and downcast; that, although striving
to be gay with the rest, yet he often turned aside to
wipe away a tear.
“What is your grief?” asked King Brondé;
“what great sorrow dwells in your heart, that will
make itself felt, even at this bridal feast 7”
“I can tell you that l” cried a strange voice at
his side.
King Brondé turned and saw, standing quite near
him, a little old woman, holding a staff, and wearing
a blue blanket pinned over her head.
“And who are you?” cried King Brondé. “By
what means gained you entrance here? And what


A DISCOVERY. 189
should one like you know of the troubles of a great
king?”
“The great king has but one trouble,” she re-
plied, “and that shall soon be taken away. Listen,
now, and you shall hear a true story.
“Many years ago I lived, with my grandchildren,
in a cabin by a lonely wood. One stormy night a
woman, a coarse-featured woman, came to my door,
bringing a young child, which she had stolen for the
sake of the jewels he wore.
“This woman offered me one half, provided I
would allow them to remain hidden there, until
her strength returned, when she would go on with
her journey.
“I accepted this offer, thinking she would soon be
gone, and that the jewels would make me rich.”
“You thief! wretch 1” cried King Brondé.
“True, both true,” answered the old woman ;
“but permit me to go on with the story; for not
many days are left me, and I would do one good
act before I die.
“The woman never recovered her strength. She
died there, in my cabin. Before her death she con-
fessed to me that this stolen child was the son of the
king. She had enticed him from his attendants,
while they were walking with him, in the grounds
belonging to the palace.
“I dared not remain in the country with the child,


140 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
for if he were found in my hands it would be cer-
tain death to me. I therefore fled with him and
my two grandchildren into another kingdom, where
I dwelt in a little hut by the sea.
“The boy grew up, fair, and with a true princely
look. I compelled him, until all danger of pursuit
was over, to go meanly clad and dirty, lest his
beauty should attract the notice of some passing
traveller. -
“And now, when all are making bridal presents, I
come also with a gift to the bridegroom. I present
to him a father. Great king, you have no longer a
trouble: this is your lost boy.”
After the rejoicing, the happy weeping, the em-
bracing, and all the deep excitement caused by the
old woman's story, had somewhat abated, orders
were given to bring forth the jewels, which were
brought from the hut, that she might declare who
were their rightful owners.
And among these was the king's signet ring,
which he had heedlessly given his boy to play with
on the morning of the day when he was stolen.
This signet ring the old woman had never dared
offer for sale.


142 THE KING'S LILY AND ROSEBUD.
After the father of Myrtle died, he and Rosebud
became king and queen, and reigned in his stead.
Their first act was to purchase from the king of
the country adjoining their own the tract of land
which contained the little fishing hamlet by the sea;
and there, by the side of the old hut, they reared a
splendid palace. The hut was preserved, standing
exactly as it stood in their childhood; and the little
garden-spot behind — the grave of their short-lived
flowers — was planted with lilies, an affectionate
tribute to the memory of the Lily Queen.
The waters of the spring where Myrtle, with fear
and trembling, once dared to wash his face were
made to gush up through a marble fountain, around
which the rose and the myrtle grew well together.
Their old companions were well cared for ; and
they loved their king and queen just as well as when
they were children of the shore with themselves;
for the good queen loved her people, and never
ceased to labor for their happiness. The holy fire
had never grown dim ; and Myrtle, the noble-heart-
ed Myrtle, thought and acted always with his be-
loved queen. In all things they went hand in hand
and heart in heart; and dwellers upon the remotest
borders of their kingdom found reason to bless the
reign of King Myrtle and Queen Rose.
The story is ended, but there is one thing which
some might care to know.


KING MYRTLE AND QUEEN ROSEBUD. 143
One day, as the king and queen were sitting in
their private chamber, talking of the long ago, the
king said: “My dear Rosebud, why was it that the
Green Fairy, as she must have had the power, did
not find some way of informing your parents where
you were hidden, or did not come to your rescue 2 ”
“She is here,” said a voice near them, - “she
is here to answer for herself.”
They turned quickly, and there, in her own proper
form, stood the Green Fairy, who spoke as fol-
lows: —
“The Green Fairy,” said she, “wished to prove
whether the child Rosebud could be as gentle, as
sweet-tempered, when in poverty, and exposed to
harsh treatment, as when living in a palace, the idol
of a court. The little fisher-boy may answer that
question for himself.”
But the Green Fairy was not so entirely neglect-
ful of the little girl. Something she could tell of a
fine-feathered bird, which guided her through the
woods. Something, too, of a bird-song, heard by a
little girl standing alone in a dark passage.
“To the left now turn the key,
Three times three, three times three.”
Also of hopeful words, murmured softly from a
tall flowering shrub, to a child who lay one night in
the forest, looking up at the stars twinkling through
the trees. -