accomplished, he was tall, handsome, and all that a prince should be.
Very seldom a day passed without his buying dogs, little dogs, big
dogs, sporting dogs, spaniels, hounds, dogs of all sorts. When he
found a beautiful one and then came across a still better, he let the
first one go, for being alone--the Princes had declined to take any
attendants--he could not take charge of thirty or forty thousand dogs.
He travelled on, keeping to one road, until on a certain night, during
a storm of thunder and rain, he lost his way, and after some wandering
arrived at a most superb castle where nobody was to be seen but about
a dozen hands all holding torches. Other hands pushed him forwards,
and guided him through one apartment after another, all so rich in
precious stones and beautiful paintings, that it was like enchantment.
After passing through sixty rooms, the hands stopped him, and here the
wet garments of the Prince were taken away, and he was clad in raiment
of the most exquisite description. The hands then conducted him into
a banqueting hall, where entered a little figure, not two feet high,
covered with a long black crepe veil, followed by a great procession
of cats.
The Prince was too much astonished to move. The little figure
approached him, raising the veil, and he saw the most beautiful White
Cat he had ever beheld.
Addressing the Prince she said:
"King's son! welcome! my Feline Majesty sees you with pleasure!"
"Madame Cat," replied the Prince, "it is very good of you to receive
me thus, but you are not an ordinary cat; being able to speak, and
possessing this superb castle, are proof of that."
After they had conversed a little while, supper was served to them,
during which the Prince entertained the Cat by telling her all sorts
of news, and he discovered that she was well informed as to what was
taking place in the world.
Supper over, various cats came in, dressed in fancy costumes, and
danced a ballet, then the White Cat bid her visitor good-night, and
the hands which had conducted him before, led him to a bed-chamber.
Early the next morning the hands awoke him, and dressing him in a
handsome hunting costume, led him to the courtyard, where he found the
White Cat upon a splendid monkey, with about five hundred other cats
assembled, all ready for the chase; and never had the Prince enjoyed
anything so much, for although mounted only upon a wooden horse, he
rode at a great pace.
Day after day passed in such delights as made the Prince almost forget
his own country.
"Alas!" said he to the White Cat again and again, "how sad I shall be
to leave you! I love you so dearly! Either become a woman, or change
me into a cat!"
A year passes very quickly when one has no care or trouble, and is
enjoying life. But the White Cat knew when the Prince should return
home, and reminded him, saying, "Don't you know you have only three
days to look for the little dog for your father, and that your
brothers will have found the most beautiful?"
Then the Prince came to himself, and cried, "By what charm have you
made me forget what is so important? Where shall I find the dog, and a
horse swift enough for such a journey?" And he was in great distress.
The White Cat comforted him, however, saying that the wooden horse
would take him to his journey's end sufficiently quickly, and that she
would herself also provide the little dog; then she handed to him
a walnut, saying, "Put your ear to this shell and you will hear him
barking."
So the Prince met his brothers, and they came into the King's
presence.
[Illustration]
The two elder sons had brought little dogs so delicate and small that
one hardly dared to touch them, and none could decide which should
have the kingdom. Then the youngest took from his pocket the nut the
Cat had given to him, and there was seen a little dog so tiny that
it could go through a ring without touching it; he was also able to
dance, and play the castanets, while his ears touched the ground.
The King was embarassed, for it was impossible to find a flaw in this
lovely little creature.
However as he did not desire to part with his crown, he declared that
they had succeeded so well in their first quest that now he should
like them to search, by land and sea, for a piece of linen so fine
that it would pass through the eye of a very small needle.
Then the three Princes set out once more, but the youngest mounted his
wooden horse and repaired at once to the White Cat, who was rejoiced
to see him, and the second year passed by as the first had done.
When the day came round appointed by the King for the return of his
sons, the two elder appeared before him, and, without awaiting the
arrival of their brother, displayed their pieces of linen, which were
of a fineness quite astonishing. But although they would pass through
the eye of a large needle, through the small needle the King had
selected they would not go.
There was much murmuring at this, and while the brothers were
disputing the King's decision, a charming sound was heard of trumpets
and other musical instruments.
It was the youngest Prince who arrived in a chariot with out-riders
and numerous attendants, all of which had been provided for him by the
White Cat.
After respectfully greeting his father and embracing his brothers, he
took out of a jewelled box a nut which he broke. On breaking the
nut he found a cherry stone, the stone was broken and there was the
kernel, in the kernel was a grain of corn, in the grain of corn a
millet seed, and within that a piece of linen so fine that it passed
six times through the smallest needle's eye, and moreover on it were
exquisite paintings of people and places without number.
The King heaved a deep sigh, and turning to his children said,
"Nothing pleases me, in my old age, so much as your deference to my
desires, and I wish to prove you once more. Travel for a year, and he
who at the end of the year brings home the most beautiful girl shall
marry her, and be crowned king on his marriage. I promise you that I
will not defer this reward any longer."
Our Prince saw the injustice of all this; his little dog and piece
of linen were worth ten kingdoms, not only one; but he was too well
brought up to go against his father's wishes, and, mounting into his
chariot, with his retinue, he returned to the White Cat's Castle.
"Well! King's son!" said the White Cat, "you have returned once more
without your crown?"
"Madam," answered the Prince, "your gifts should have gained it for
me, but I am convinced that the King would have more pain in giving it
up than I should have pleasure in possessing it!"
"Never mind," she replied, "you shall not neglect anything that may
deserve it; and if you must conduct a beautiful girl to your father's
court, I will look for one so that you may gain the prize. Meanwhile
let us be happy."
[Illustration]
If the Cat had not taken pains to remember the time when he must
return to the court, the Prince would surely have forgotten it. On the
evening before, she told him that she would bring him to one of the
most beautiful Princesses in the world, that at last the hour had
arrived to destroy the fatal work of an evil fairy, and to do this he
must make up his mind to cut off her head and tail, which he was at
once to throw into the fire.
"I," cried the Prince, "Blanchette that I love: do you think I should
be cruel enough to kill you? No doubt, you wish to prove my heart
which will certainly never forget what I owe to you for your
kindness."
"No! King's son," she continued, "I don't think you are ungrateful. Do
this that I beseech you, and then we shall begin to be happy with one
another, by the faith and honour of a cat, believe that I am truly
your friend."
Tears flowed from the Prince's eyes even at the thought, and he said
all that he could to avoid it, but she urged him so vehemently that
at last he took his sword and tremblingly cut off the head and tail of
his dear friend the Cat.
In the same moment took place the most marvellous change imaginable.
The body of the White Cat grew large, and was transformed into that
of a girl; how, one could not say; one only knew it was so. Her figure
was majestic, her manners charming, her whole appearance beautiful
beyond words.
Then there entered an immense number of lords and ladies, who carrying
their cats' skins, or with them thrown across their shoulders, came
and cast themselves at the feet of the Queen, expressing their joy at
seeing her again in her rightful form.
She received them all with a kindness which showed the goodness of her
heart, and then turning to the Prince she told the story of her life,
and how by a wicked enchantment she had been transformed into a White
Cat.
"But it is you, my Prince, who have freed me," she concluded; "as soon
as I saw you I knew my troubles were at an end."
They set out forthwith in a splendid carriage. As they drew near the
castle, at the place where the three brothers were to meet, the Queen
entered into a little crystal rock ornamented with precious stones,
and this was carried by richly dressed young men.
The Prince who had remained in the carriage, saw his brothers,
approaching with wondrously beautiful ladies.
On being questioned he told them that all he had brought was a little
White Cat.
[Illustration: "THE BODY OF THE WHITE CAT GREW LARGE AND WAS
TRANSFORMED INTO THAT OF A GIRL."]
They began to laugh at him, and drove on followed by the young Prince,
while after him was brought the crystal rock.
Arrived at the Palace the two elder Princes dismounted with their
marvellous Princesses.
The King received them graciously, and did not know to which to award
the prize.
He looked at his youngest son and said, "This time, then, you have
come alone." "Your Majesty will see in this rock a little White
Cat who mews sweetly and has soft little velvet paws," answered the
Prince.
The King smiled, and himself went to open the rock. But, as he came
near, the Queen, with a touch, made it shatter to pieces, and from out
of it she appeared like the sun that has been hidden by clouds; her
fair hair was spread over her shoulders, and fell in waves to her
feet, and she was robed in a gown of white and rose-colour.
She made a deep curtsey to the King who, struck with admiration, could
not help exclaiming,
"Here is one who is matchless, and she deserves my crown."
"Sire," she answered, "I have not come to take away the throne that
you fill with such dignity; I was born heir to six kingdoms, allow
me to offer you one, and one of them I give to each of your sons. In
return all I ask of you is this young Prince for my husband. We shall
still have three kingdoms."
The King and all the Court uttered loud cries of joy. The marriage was
at once celebrated, also that of the other two Princes; and in such a
manner that the Court spent several months in fêtes of all sorts.
Then each one of them departed to govern his kingdom, the White Cat
making herself ever remembered as much by her kindness and generosity
as by her rare merit and beauty.
[Illustration]
BLUEBEARD
In the long ago times, in a splendid house, surrounded by fine
gardens and a park, there lived a man who had riches in abundance, and
everything to make him popular except one, and that was his beard, for
his beard was neither black as a raven's wing, golden as the sunlight,
nor just an ordinary every-day colour, but it was blue, bright blue.
Of course had blue beards come into fashion his would have been
considered beautiful beyond words, but, as far as we know, blue beards
have never as yet been fashionable, nor are they likely to be so.
However, in spite of his blue beard this man had married several
times, though what had become of his wives nobody could say.
Now, not far from Bluebeard's house there dwelt a widow with two very
lovely daughters, and one of these Bluebeard wished to marry, but
which he did not mind, they might settle that between themselves.
Neither of these girls had the least desire to have a husband with a
blue beard, and also, not knowing the fate of the other wives, they
did not like to risk disappearing from the world as those had done,
but being very polite young women they would not refuse Bluebeard's
proposals outright. The younger said, "I would not for a moment take
away Sister Anne's chance of marrying such a wealthy man," while
Sister Anne declared that, although the elder, she would much prefer
to give way to her sister. And so it went on for some time.
Then Bluebeard invited the widow and her daughters to spend a week
with him, and many of their neighbours he also invited.
Most sumptuous was the entertainment provided for them. Hunting and
fishing expeditions, picnics and balls went on from morning till
night, and all the night through, so that there was not time even to
think of sleep, only feasting and pleasure the whole week long.
So well, indeed, did the younger sister enjoy this, that by the end of
the week she had begun to think perhaps after all her host's beard was
not so very blue, and that it would be a fine thing to be the mistress
of such a magnificent mansion, and the wife of such a rich husband.
And so, not long afterwards, there was a grand wedding, and the
widow's younger daughter became Mrs. Bluebeard.
About a month later, Bluebeard told his wife that he must leave her
for several weeks, having to travel on business.
"While I am absent, my dear," said he, "invite your relations and
friends and enjoy yourself just as you please in entertaining them.
See here are my keys, the keys of the rooms and of the chests where I
keep my money, my gold and silver plate, and my jewels. Unlock rooms
and chests and use freely what you will."
[Illustration]
"This small key," he added, pointing to quite a little one, "is the
key of the door at the end of the lower landing, you will not need to
use this at all. In fact, should you open that door, or even put this
key into the lock, I should be dreadfully angry, indeed I should make
you suffer for it in a terrible way."
Then Bluebeard bid his wife good-bye, and departed.
As soon as Mrs. Bluebeard's friends and relations knew that her
husband was away, they came flocking to visit her, for they longed to
see all her splendid possessions, but had feared to come before.
They could not enough admire the magnificent apartments, and ran from
one to another praising everything they beheld.
But the young wife heeded nothing they said or did, all she thought
of was that little key which she must not use, wondering more and more
why she ought not to open that one particular door.
At last she could bear it no longer, but slipping away from her
visitors, she ran along the passages and stairs, nearly falling down
them, so great was her haste, until she came to that door at the end
of the corridor.
Not pausing an instant, she thrust the key into the lock, and the door
sprang open.
At first she could distinguish nothing, for the room was dark and
gloomy, but then, all of a sudden, she knew what had become of
Bluebeard's other wives, for there they lay, in a long, straight row,
all dead. She stood horrified for a moment or two, gazing at the
pale faces, and long hair spread out around them, then picking up
the little key which she had taken from the lock but dropped in her
fright, she hastily quitted the room, shut and locked the door, and
ran to her own chamber to calm herself before returning to her guests.
But she was unable to rest for an instant, so dreadful were her
feelings; then with terror she noticed that on the key there was a
stain. She wiped it with her handkerchief, but alas! it was blood that
would not be wiped away. She washed the key and rubbed it, and
scraped it and polished it, but all to no purpose, if she succeeded
in cleansing one side, the mark came out on the other. For the key was
enchanted.
[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
BLUEBEARD]
That same evening Bluebeard returned saying he had met the man whom
he was wanting to see, and so the long journey was unnecessary, and he
was rejoiced to be at home again.
Next morning he called for the keys; his wife brought them to him,
but not the little one; that she left behind. Bluebeard noticed this
directly and sent her to fetch it. Trembling, and white as a sheet,
she was forced to give it into his hand.
"Ha! what is this?" he cried, "what is this stain that I see!"
His poor wife trembled still more, and could not speak.
"Wretched woman!" shouted Bluebeard, "you have used this key, you have
unlocked the door of that room at the end of the passage. You shall
die!!!"
In vain did his wife plead with him to spare her, kneeling before him
with tears streaming from her eyes. "You shall die!" he cried again,
more savagely than before.
"Let me have a few moments alone, to prepare for death,"
"Half a quarter of an hour, but not a moment longer," he replied, and
left her.
The poor young woman hastened to a room at the foot of the turret
stairs where was her Sister Anne, and called to her.
"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look from the tower window. Can you see no
one coming?" And Sister Anne, looking out, answered:
"Alas! No! Nothing but the green grass, and the sun which shines upon
it."
Bluebeard shouted from below that the time was almost up.
"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look once again, can you see no one
coming?" whispered the young wife wringing her hands. Her brothers,
she knew, were to visit her that day--if only they would come in time!
"Alas, No!" Sister Anne replied. "I see a cloud of dust, but it is
only a flock of sheep on the road."
But now Bluebeard bawled out so loudly for his wife to come down, that
the whole house shook.
"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, tell me is no one coming?"
"I see two horsemen afar off," cried Sister Anne. "I will beckon to
them to hasten hither."
But Bluebeard would wait not a moment longer, and nearly dead with
terror his wife descended, still entreating him to spare her life.
He would not, however, give heed to her prayers, and was just
brandishing his sword, so that it might come down straight and true
upon her slender neck, when the door burst open and two young army
officers came rushing in, whom Bluebeard recognised as the brothers
of his wife. He swiftly fled, but they speedily followed, and for his
many crimes slew him then and there.
All his wealth now belonged to his widow, and she gratefully rewarded
her brothers by purchasing them commissions in the army; she settled
a large sum of money upon her sister, and after a while she married
again, and with a good husband lived a happy life.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Once upon a time, a long while ago, there was a Beast.
He was a Great Beast, and lived in a Great Castle that stood in the
middle of a Great Park, and everybody in the country held the Beast in
great fear. In fact everything about the Beast was great; his roar was
great and terrific and could be heard for miles around the park, and
when he roared the people trembled.
Nobody ever saw the Beast, which was by no means remarkable, for the
Beast never came out of his Park, and no one, I can assure you, ever
ventured on to his estate.
But matters were not allowed to remain like this for ever, for
something very wonderful happened to the Beast and to somebody else,
and if that something had not happened this story would never have
been written.
About two miles and three quarters from the Castle gates there lived
a rich merchant and his three daughters. The two elder girls were ugly
disagreeable things, and although they had all they could wish for to
make them happy they were always grumbling; but the youngest daughter,
whose name was Beauty, was very pretty, and her nature was happy and
good, her presence was sunshine, and she was the joy of her father's
heart.
Well, one day the two elder sisters had something to grumble about
with a vengeance, for a telegram arrived to say that the merchant was
no longer a rich merchant, for he had lost all his money.
So the horses and carriages had to be sold, and everything that was
of value was got rid of, the servants were sent away, and the merchant
and his daughters had to do their own work.
Dear me, it was shocking, the way those two sisters grumbled, but
Beauty, oh dear no, she was all smiles, for her heart was as sunny as
ever, as she rolled up the sleeves of her print frock, and cooked the
dinner, and scrubbed the floors, and made herself useful, here, there,
and everywhere.
Things had been going on like this for about three months, when one
fine morning another telegram boy came with another telegram to say
that somebody who owed the merchant a great deal of money was ready to
pay the debt, and all the merchant had to do was to go to the city and
get it.
Of course, everybody was delighted at this good news, and the merchant
didn't waste any time, but started off to the city at once.
"Mind you bring me something back," said the eldest daughter as he was
starting.
"What shall it be?" asked the merchant.
"A white satin dress trimmed with lace and pearls," said his eldest
daughter.
"And you must bring me something too, please, father," said the second
daughter.
"And what do you want," asked the merchant.
"A purse full of gold so that I can buy what I want myself," said the
second daughter.
"I will try and do what you both ask," he said, "and what shall I
bring for my Beauty?"
"I will wait a little for my dresses and things," replied the smiling
Beauty, as she helped her father on with his cloak, "but I should like
you to bring me home a rose, a lovely red rose, if you can."
So her father kissed her, and promised he would bring her the rose,
and went on his way full of hopes.
What a pity it is that our hopes cannot be always realized, and that
we are so often doomed to disappointment! When the merchant arrived at
the city, to his dismay he found that the man who owed him the money
was still unable to pay him, the man had been disappointed himself at
the last moment.
So the unhappy father had to return home without the white satin dress
trimmed with lace and pearls, and without the bag of money, and he
dreaded meeting his two daughters, for he knew they would be terribly
angry.
[Illustration]
Now on his way home from the station to his house he had to pass by
part of the wall that surrounded the Great Park where the Great Beast
lived in his Great Castle; and as he passed by a corner of the wall
what should he see hanging just over the top, and just within his
reach if he stood on his toes, but a lovely red rose.
"At any rate I can take my Beauty what she asked for," he said to
himself, and, without so much as giving a thought to the wrong he was
doing, he stood on his toes and plucked the rose.
He was sorry he did it.
Of a sudden there was a roar, such a roar that the very ground shook,
and as to the poor merchant he quivered like a leaf.
Enough to make him quiver indeed, for a gate in the wall suddenly
opened, and out rushed the _Beast_.
Yes, the Beast, if you please, and he seized the merchant by the
scruff of his neck, and dragged him into the Park, and shut the gate
after him.
"Don't you know it's a sin to steal?" roared the Beast. "How dare you
steal my roses? I am going to kill you."
"Oh, mercy, Mr. Beast," cried the unhappy man, flinging himself on his
knees before the monster.
[Illustration]
"I'm going to kill you," roared the Beast still more loudly. "It's
taken years to cultivate this sort of rose, and--and I'm going to
kill you. Unless," he added after a pause, "you send me one of your
daughters here instead."
"All right," said the merchant and got on his feet again.
"She must be here to-morrow by breakfast time, and I breakfast early,"
said the Beast, as he let the merchant out of the gate. "If she is not
here, I shall come for you, and don't you forget it."
It was by no means likely that he would forget it, in fact he could
think of nothing else. He hurried home and told his dreadful news, and
received a dreadful scolding from his two elder daughters, who were
angry at not getting their presents.
"And it is Beauty's fault that you have got into this trouble," they
said. "Beauty and her stupid rose. Beauty had better get you out of
the trouble." Beauty said little, but smiled on, with sunshine in her
heart, and trust in her loving nature, and cooked the dinner.
[Illustration: "WHEN SHE CAME TO THE GATE IN THE WALL SHE KNOCKED UPON
IT THREE TIMES"]
Early next morning when the dawn was breaking she left her father's
house, leaving a little note behind her begging him not to be anxious
but that she had gone to the Beast's castle.