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BO-PEEP
STORY BOOKS.
[Illustration]
CINDERELLA,
THE PRINCESS ROSETTA,
FAIR ONE AND GOLDEN LOCKS,
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST,
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD,
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY,
NEW YORK:
LEAVITT & ALLEN BROS.,
No. 8 HOWARD STREET.
* * * * *
THE STORY
OF
=Cinderella; or the Glass Slipper=.
[Illustration]
=Edited by Madame de Chatelain.=
=Cinderella; or, the Glass Slipper.=
There once lived a gentleman, who, on becoming a widower, married a most
haughty woman for his second wife. The lady had two daughters by a
former marriage, equally proud and disagreeable as herself, while the
husband had one daughter, of the sweetest temper and most angelic
disposition, who was the complete counterpart of her late mother. No
sooner was the wedding over, than the stepmother began to show her bad
temper. She could not bear her stepdaughter's good qualities, that only
showed up her daughters' unamiable ones still more obviously, and she
accordingly compelled the poor girl to do all the drudgery of the
household. It was she who washed the dishes, and scrubbed down the
stairs, and polished the floors in my lady's chamber, and in those of
the two pert misses, her daughters; and while the latter slept on good
featherbeds in elegant rooms, furnished with full-length
looking-glasses, their sister lay in a wretched garret on an old straw
mattress. Yet the poor thing bore this ill treatment very meekly, and
did not dare complain to her father, who was so besotted to his wife
that he would only have scolded her.
When her work was done, she used to sit in the chimney corner amongst
the cinders, which had caused the nickname of _Cinderella_ to be given
her by the family; yet, for all her shabby clothes, Cinderella was a
hundred times prettier than her sisters, let them be drest ever so
magnificently.
It happened that the king's son gave a ball, to which he invited all the
nobility; and, as our two young ladies made a great figure in the world,
they were included in the list of invitations. So they began to be very
busy choosing what head-dress and which gown would be the most becoming.
Here was fresh work for poor Cinderella; for it was she, forsooth, who
was to starch and get up their ruffles, and iron all their fine linen;
and nothing but dress was talked about for days together. "I," said the
eldest, "shall put on my red velvet dress, with my point-lace
trimmings." "And I," said the younger sister, "shall wear my usual
petticoat, but shall set it off with my gold brocaded train and my
circlet of diamonds." They sent for a clever tire-woman to prepare the
double rows of quilling for their caps, and they purchased a quantity of
fashionably cut patches. They called in Cinderella to take her advice,
as she had such good taste, and Cinderella not only advised them well,
but offered to dress their hair, which they were pleased to accept.
While she was thus busied, the sisters said to her, "And pray,
Cinderella, would you like to go to the ball!" "Nay, you are mocking
me," replied the poor girl; "it is not for such as I to go to balls."
"True enough," rejoined they; "folks would laugh to see a Cinderella at
a court ball."
[Illustration]
Any other but Cinderella would have drest their hair awry to punish them
for their impertinence, but she was so good natured that she dressed
them most becomingly. The two sisters were so delighted, that they
scarcely ate a morsel for a couple of days. They spent their whole time
before a looking-glass, and they would be laced so tight, to make their
waists as slender as possible, that more than a dozen stay-laces were
broken in the attempt.
[Illustration]
The long-wished-for evening came at last, and off they set. Cinderella's
eyes followed them as long as she could, and then she was fain to weep.
Her godmother now appeared, and seeing her in tears inquired what was
the matter. "I wish---I wish," began the poor girl, but tears choked her
utterance. "You wish that you could go to the ball," interrupted her
godmother, who was a fairy. "Indeed I do!" said Cinderella, with a sigh.
"Well, then, if you will be a good girl, you shall go," said her
godmother. "Now fetch me a pumpkin from the garden," added she.
Cinderella flew to gather the finest pumpkin she could find, though she
could not understand how it was to help her to go to the ball. But, her
godmother having scooped it quite hollow, touched it with her wand, when
it was immediately changed into a gilt coach. She then went to the
mousetrap, where she found six live mice, and bidding Cinderella let
them out one by one, she changed each mouse into a fine dapple-grey
horse by a stroke of her wand. She next considered what she should do
for a coachman, when Cinderella proposed to look for a rat in the
rat-trap. "That's a good thought," quoth her godmother, "so go and see."
Sure enough, Cinderella returned with the rat-trap, in which were three
large rats. The fairy chose one who had a tremendous pair of whiskers,
and forthwith changed him into a coachman with the finest moustachios
ever seen. She then said: "Now go into the garden, and bring me six
lizards, which you will find behind the watering-pot." These were no
sooner brought, than they were turned into six footmen, with laced
liveries, who got up behind the coach just as naturally as if they had
done nothing else all their lives. The fairy then said to Cinderella:
"Now here are all the means for going to the ball; are you not pleased?"
"But must I go in these dirty clothes?" said Cinderella, timidly. Her
godmother merely touched her with her wand, and her shabby clothes were
changed to a dress of gold and silver tissue, all ornamented with
precious stones. She next gave her the prettiest pair of glass slippers
ever seen. She now got into the carriage, after having been warned by
her godmother upon no account to prolong her stay beyond midnight, as,
should she remain a moment longer at the ball, her coach would again
become a pumpkin, her horses mice, her footmen lizards, while her
clothes would return to their former shabby condition. Cinderella
promised she would not fail to leave the ball before midnight, and set
off in an ecstacy of delight. The king's son, on being informed that
some great princess, unknown at court, had just arrived, went to hand
her out of her carriage, and brought her into the hall where the company
was assembled. The moment she appeared, all conversation was hushed,
the violins ceased playing, and the dancing stopped short, so great was
the sensation produced by the stranger's beauty. A confused murmur of
admiration fluttered through the crowd, and each was fain to exclaim
"How surpassingly lovely she is!" Even the king, old as he was, could
not forbear admiring her like the rest, and whispered to the queen, that
she was certainly the fairest and comeliest woman he had seen for many a
long day. The ladies were all busy examining her head-dress and her
clothes, in order to get similar ones the very next day, if, indeed,
they could meet with stuffs of such rich patterns, and find workwomen
clever enough to make them up.
[Illustration]
After leading her to the place to which her rank seemed to entitle her,
the king's son requested her hand for the next dance, when she displayed
so much grace as to increase the admiration her beauty had raised in the
first instance. An elegant supper was next brought in, but the young
prince was so taken up with gazing at the fair stranger, that he did not
partake of a morsel. Cinderella went and sat by her sisters, sharing
with them the oranges and citrons the prince had offered her, much to
their surprise, as they did not recognise her in the least.
When Cinderella heard the clock strike three-quarters past eleven, she
made a low curtsey to the whole assembly, and retired in haste. On
reaching home, she found her godmother, and after thanking her for the
treat she had enjoyed, she ventured to express a wish to return to the
ball on the following evening, as the prince had requested her to do.
She was still relating to her godmother all that had happened at court,
when her two sisters knocked at the door. Cinderella went and let them
in, pretending to yawn and stretch herself, and rub her eyes, and
saying: "How late you are!" just as if she was woke up out of a nap,
though, truth to say, she had never felt less disposed to sleep in her
life. "If you had been to the ball," said one of the sisters, "you would
not have thought it late. There came the most beautiful princess ever
seen, who loaded us with polite attentions, and gave us oranges and
citrons."
Cinderella could scarcely contain her delight, and inquired the name of
the princess. But they replied that nobody knew her name, and that the
king's son was in great trouble about her, and would give the world to
know who she could be. "Is she, then, so very beautiful?" said
Cinderella, smiling. "Lord! how I should like to see her! Oh, do, my
Lady Javotte, lend me the yellow dress you wear every day, that I may go
to the ball and have a peep at this wonderful princess." "A likely
story, indeed!" cried Javotte, tossing her head disdainfully, "that I
should lend my clothes to a dirty Cinderella like you!" Cinderella
expected to be refused, and was not sorry for it, as she would have been
puzzled what to do, had her sister really lent her the dress she begged
to have.
On the following evening, the sisters again went to the court ball, and
so did Cinderella, drest even more magnificently than before. The king's
son never left her side, and kept paying her the most flattering
attentions. The young lady was nothing loth to listen to him; so it came
to pass that she forgot her godmother's injunctions, and, indeed, lost
her reckoning so completely, that, before she deemed it could be eleven
o'clock, she was startled at hearing the first stroke of midnight. She
rose hastily, and flew away like a startled fawn. The prince attempted
to follow her, but she was too swift for him; only, as she flew she
dropped one of her glass slippers, which he picked up very eagerly.
Cinderella reached home quite out of breath, without either coach or
footmen, and with only her shabby clothes on her back; nothing, in
short, remained of her recent magnificence, save a little glass slipper,
the fellow to the one she had lost. The sentinels at the palace gate
were closely questioned as to whether they had not seen a princess
coming out; but they answered they had seen no one except a shabbily
drest girl, who appeared to be a peasant rather than a young lady.
[Illustration]
When the two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella asked them
whether they had been well entertained; and whether the beautiful lady
was there? They replied, that she was; but that she had run away as soon
as midnight had struck, and so quickly as to drop one of her dainty
glass slippers, which the king's son had picked up, and was looking at
most fondly during the remainder of the ball; indeed, it seemed beyond a
doubt that he was deeply enamoured of the beautiful creature to whom it
belonged.
They spoke truly enough; for, a few days afterwards, the king's son
caused a proclamation to be made, by sound of trumpet, all over the
kingdom, to the effect that he would marry her whose foot should be
found to fit the slipper exactly. So the slipper was first tried on by
all the princesses; then by all the duchesses; and next by all the
persons belonging to the court: but in vain. It was then carried to the
two sisters, who tried with all their might to force their feet into its
delicate proportions, but with no better success. Cinderella, who was
present, and recognised her slipper, now laughed, and said: "Suppose I
were to try?" Her sisters ridiculed such an idea; but the gentleman who
was appointed to try the slipper, having looked attentively at
Cinderella, and perceived how beautiful she was, said that it was but
fair she should do so, as he had orders to try it on every young maiden
in the kingdom. Accordingly, having requested Cinderella to sit down,
she no sooner put her little foot to the slipper, than she drew it on,
and it fitted like wax. The sisters were quite amazed; but their
astonishment increased ten fold, when Cinderella drew the fellow slipper
out of her pocket, and put it on. Her godmother then made her
appearance; and, having touched Cinderella's clothes with her wand, made
them still more magnificent than those she had previously worn.
[Illustration]
Her two sisters now recognised her for the beautiful stranger they had
seen at the ball; and, falling at her feet, implored her forgiveness for
their unworthy treatment, and all the insults they had heaped upon her
head. Cinderella raised them, saying, as she embraced them, that she not
only forgave them with all her heart, but wished for their affection.
She was then taken to the palace of the young prince, in whose eyes she
appeared yet more lovely than before, and who married her shortly after.
Cinderella, who was as good as she was beautiful, allowed her sisters to
lodge in the palace, and gave them in marriage, that same day, to two
lords belonging to the court.
THE STORY
OF
=Beauty and the Beast=.
[Illustration]
=Edited by Madame de Chatelain.=
=Beauty and the Beast.=
There was once a wealthy merchant who had three sons and three
daughters. The latter were extremely pretty, especially the youngest,
who, indeed, was called in childhood the little Beauty,--a nickname that
clung to her ever after, much to the jealous annoyance of her sisters.
Nor did she excel them more in beauty than in goodness. The two eldest
sisters were so proud of their father's fortune that they would not
condescend to herd with other merchants' daughters, but were always
dangling after persons of quality, and frequenting balls and plays, and
laughed at their youngest sister for spending her time in reading
instructive books. As they were known to be rich, many wealthy merchants
offered to marry them; but the two eldest replied, that they could not
think of anybody below a Duke, or at least an Earl, while Beauty
answered, that she thanked them for their good opinion, but that, being
still very young, she wished to remain a few years longer with her
father.
[Illustration]
It happened that the merchant was suddenly ruined, and nothing was left
of all his vast property but a small house in the country, whither, he
informed his children, they must now remove. The two eldest replied,
that for their parts they need not leave town, as they had plenty of
lovers who would be too happy to marry them even without a fortune. But
here they were strangely mistaken. Their lovers would not even look upon
them now; and, as they had made themselves odious by their pride, nobody
pitied them for their fall, though every one felt sorry for Beauty.
Indeed, several gentlemen offered to marry her, portionless as she was;
but she told them she could not resolve to abandon her father in his
misfortunes. The family now removed into the country, where the father
and his sons tilled the ground, while Beauty rose daily at four o'clock,
and did all the work in the house. At first this drudgery seemed very
hard, but after a time she grew stronger, and her health improved. When
her work was over she read, played on the harpsichord, or sang as she
sat at her spinning-wheel. As to her two sisters, they were perfectly
helpless, and a burden to themselves. They would rise at ten, and spend
the live-long day fretting for the loss of their fine clothes and gay
parties, and sneer at their sister for her low-born tastes, because she
put up with their unfortunate position so cheerfully.
The family had spent about a year in their retreat, when the merchant
received a letter, informing him that a ship freighted with goods
belonging to him, that was thought to be lost, had just come into port.
At this unexpected news the two eldest sisters were half wild for joy,
as they now hoped they would soon leave the cottage; and when their
father was about to go and settle his business, they begged him to bring
them back all sorts of dresses and trinkets. When the father perceived
that Beauty did not ask for anything, he inquired what he should bring
her. "Why, since you ask me, dear father," said she, "I should like you
to bring me a rose, as none grow in these parts." Now, it was not that
Beauty particularly cared about his bringing a rose, only she would not
appear to blame her sisters, or to seem superior to them, by saying she
did not wish for anything. The good man set off, but when he reached the
port, he was obliged to go to law about the cargo, and it ended in his
returning as poor as he came. He was within thirty miles of home, when,
on passing by night through a large forest, he was overtaken by a heavy
fall of snow, and, having completely lost his way, he began to be afraid
he should die of hunger and cold, when of a sudden he perceived a light
at the end of a long long avenue of trees, and, on making for that
direction, he reached a splendid palace, where, to his surprise, not a
human being was stirring in any of the court-yards. His horse followed
him, and, seeing a stable-door open, walked in, and here the poor jaded
beast fed heartily on the hay and oats that filled the crib. The
merchant then entered the house, where he still saw nobody, but found a
good fire, and a table ready laid for one person, with the choicest
viands. Being completely drenched, he drew near the fire to dry his
clothes, saying to himself, "I hope the master of the house or his
servants will excuse the liberty I am taking, for no doubt it will not
be long before they make their appearance." He then waited a
considerable while, still no one came, and by the time the clock struck
eleven, he was so exhausted with hunger that he took up a chicken, which
he devoured in two mouthfuls, and in a perfect tremor. He next drank
several glasses of wine, when, taking courage, he left the hall, and
crossed several suites of rooms most magnificently furnished. At last he
found a very nice chamber, and, as it was now past midnight, and he was
excessively tired, he closed the door and went to bed.
[Illustration]
The merchant did not wake till ten o'clock on the following morning,
when he was surprised to find a new suit of clothes instead of his own,
which were spoiled. He now concluded the palace belonged to some
beneficent fairy; a notion which was completely confirmed on his looking
out of window, and seeing that the snow had given place to flowery
arbours and the most enchanting gardens. Having returned to the great
hall, where he had supped on the previous night, he saw a small table,
on which stood some chocolate ready for his breakfast. When his meal
was finished, he went to look after his horse, and, as he happened to
pass under a bower of roses, he bethought him of Beauty's request, and
plucked a bunch to take home. No sooner had he done so than he heard a
frightful roar, and saw such a horrible beast stalking up to him that he
was ready to faint with alarm. "You are most ungrateful," cried the
Beast, in a terrific voice. "I saved your life by admitting you into my
palace, and you reward me by stealing my roses, which I love beyond
everything else! You shall pay the forfeit with your life's blood." The
poor merchant threw himself on his knees before the Beast, saying:
"Forgive me, my Lord, I did not know I should offend you by plucking a
rose for one of my daughters, in compliance with her wishes." "I am not
a lord, but a beast," answered the monster; "I hate flattery, and you
will not come over me with any fine speeches; but, as you say you have
daughters, I will forgive you, provided one of them comes willingly to
die in your stead, but swear that, should they refuse, you will return
in three months." The merchant had not the most distant intention of
sacrificing one of his daughters, but wishing to see his children once
more before he died, he swore to return, and the Beast dismissed him,
telling him he need not go empty-handed, but that, if he returned to his
bed-chamber, he would find a large trunk, which he was at liberty to
fill with anything he fancied in the palace, and that it would be sent
after him. Somewhat comforted at the idea of leaving his children
provided for, the merchant returned to his room, where he found a
quantity of gold pieces; and having filled the trunk, he left the palace
in a far sadder mood than he had entered it. On reaching home, he gave
the roses to his daughter, saying: "Take them, Beauty: you little think
how dear they have cost your poor father." And thereupon, he related all
that had befallen him. The two eldest sisters then began to rend the
air with their lamentations, and to upbraid Beauty for being the cause
of their father's death, because, forsooth, she didn't ask for dresses,
as they did, in order to seem wiser than they; and now she had not even
a tear for the mischief she had done. But Beauty replied, it were of
little use to weep, for that she was quite resolved to go, and die in
her father's stead. "No," cried the three brothers, "we will go and seek
this monster, and either he or we shall perish." But the merchant
assured them it was vain to attempt resisting the Beast's all-powerful
will, and that it was their duty to live to protect their sisters, as it
was his to sacrifice the few remaining years he could expect to enjoy.
Meanwhile, the merchant, having forgotten all about the trunk, was much
surprised to find it on retiring to his chamber; but he said nothing
about it for the present to his eldest daughters, as he knew they would
pester him to return to town.
[Illustration]
When the day came that Beauty was to set out with her father, the two
heartless sisters rubbed their eyes with an onion to appear as if they
had cried a great deal, while her brothers shed real tears, as well as
the father himself. The horse took the right road of his own accord,
and, on reaching the palace, which was illuminated as before, he went at
once into the stable, while the father and daughter entered the great
hall, where two covers were laid on a table loaded with the most dainty
fare. After supper they heard a tremendous noise. Beauty shuddered on
seeing the Beast enter, and when he inquired whether she had come
willingly, she could not help trembling as she faltered out "Yes." "Then
I am obliged for your kindness," growled the Beast; and, turning to the
father, he added: "As for you--get you gone to-morrow, and never let me
see you here again. Good night, Beauty." "Good night, Beast," answered
she, and then the monster retired. The merchant again fell to entreating
his daughter to leave him, but the next morning she prevailed on him to
set out; which he, perhaps, would not have done, had he not felt a faint
hope that the Beast might, after all, relent. When he was gone, Beauty
could not help shedding some tears; after which she proceeded to examine
the various rooms of the palace, when she was surprised to find written
upon one of the doors, "Beauty's Apartment." She opened it in haste, and
found a magnificently furnished room, and was much struck on seeing an
extensive library, a harpsichord, and music books; for she concluded
that, if she had only a day to live, such amusements would not have been
provided for her. Her surprise increased, on opening one of the books,
and seeing written in golden letters, "_Your wishes and commands shall
be obeyed: you are here the queen over everything_." "Alas!" thought
she, "my wish would be to see what my poor father is now about." No
sooner had she expressed this desire in her own mind, than she saw
depicted in a large looking-glass her father's arrival at home. Her
sisters came out to meet him, and, in spite of their affected sorrow,
it was plain enough that they rejoiced in their hearts at his returning
alone. This vision disappeared a moment afterwards, and Beauty felt
grateful to the Beast for complying with her wishes. At noon she found
dinner ready for her; and she was treated all the while to an excellent
concert, though she saw nobody. At night the Beast came, and asked leave
to sup with her, which of course she could not refuse, though she
trembled from head to foot. Presently he inquired whether she did not
think him very ugly. "Yes," said Beauty, "for I cannot tell a lie; but I
think you very good." The supper passed off pleasantly enough, and
Beauty had half recovered from her alarm, when he suddenly asked her
whether she would marry him. Though afraid of irritating him, she
faltered out: "No, Beast," when he sighed so as to shake the whole
house, and saying: "Good night, Beauty," in a sorrowful tone, left the
room, much to her relief, though she could not help pitying him from her
soul.
Beauty lived in this manner for three months. The Beast came to supper
every night; and, by degrees, as she grew accustomed to his ugliness,
she esteemed him for his many amiable qualities. The only thing that
pained her was, that he never failed to ask her whether she would marry
him; and when, at last, she told him that she had the greatest
friendship though no love for him, he begged her at least to promise
never to leave him. Now Beauty had seen in her glass, that very morning,
that her father lay sick with grief at her supposed death; and, as her
sisters were married, and her brothers gone for soldiers, she had so
great a wish to go and see him, that she told the Beast she should die
if he refused her leave. "No," said the Beast, "I would much rather your
poor Beast should die of grief for your absence. So you may go." But
Beauty promised to return in a week; and the Beast having informed her
that she need only lay her ring on her toilet table before she went to
bed, when she meant to return, he wished her good night, and retired.
[Illustration]
On awaking next morning, Beauty found herself in her father's cottage,
and his delight on seeing her alive soon restored his health. He sent
for her sisters, who presently came accompanied by their husbands, with
whom they lived very unhappily, as one was so vain of his person that he
thought nothing of his wife, and the other so sarcastic that he was
playing off his wit all day long on everybody around him, and most of
all on his lady. The sisters were so jealous on finding Beauty
magnificently dressed, and hearing how kind the Beast was to her, that
they laid a plan for detaining her beyond the time allowed her to stay,
in hopes he would be so angry as to devour her. Accordingly, when the
week was over, they affected such grief at her departure, that Beauty
agreed to a stay another week, though she could not help reproaching
herself for so doing. But on the night of the tenth day, she dreamt she
saw the Beast lying half dead on the grass in the palace garden, and
waking all in tears, she got out of bed, laid her ring on the table,
and then went to bed again, where she soon fell asleep. She was quite
relieved, on waking, to find herself back in the palace, and waited
impatiently till supper time, but nine o'clock struck, and no Beast
appeared. Beauty then seriously feared she had caused his death, and
running into the garden towards the spot she had dreamt of, she saw the
poor Beast lying senseless on the grass. She threw herself upon his body
in despair, when feeling that his heart still beat, she ran to fetch
some water from a neighbouring stream, and threw it into his face. The
Beast opened his eyes saying in a faint voice: "You forgot your
promise, and I determined to starve myself to death; but since you are
come, I shall, at least, die happy." "No! you shall not die, dear
Beast," cried Beauty, "you shall live to be my husband, for I now feel I
really love you." No sooner had she spoken these words, than the palace
was brilliantly illuminated, fireworks were displayed, and a band of
music struck up. The Beast had disappeared, and in his place, a very
handsome prince was at her feet, thanking her for having broken his
enchantment. "But where is my poor Beast?" said Beauty anxiously. "He is
now before you," said the prince. "A wicked fairy condemned me to retain
that uncouth form till some beautiful maid had sufficient goodness to
love me in spite of my ugliness." Beauty, most agreeably surprised, now
helped the prince to rise, and they returned to the palace, where she
found her father. The young pair were then married, and the prince and
his beautiful bride were heartily welcomed by his subjects, who had
mourned his absence, and over whom they reigned happily for many, many
long years.
[Illustration]
THE STORY
OF
=Princess Rosetta=.
[Illustration]
=Edited by Madame de Chatelain.=
=Princess Rosetta.=
There once lived a king and a queen who had two very fine boys. The
queen always invited the fairies, on the birth of her children, to
foretel their fortunes; so when, some years after, a daughter was born,
she again applied to her old friends. The little girl was so beautiful
that the fairies were struck with admiration; but when questioned by the
mother as to the future fate of Princess Rosetta (for such was her
name), they one and all pretended to have left their conjuring-book at
home, and said they would come another time. "Alas!" cried the queen,
"this bodes no good. Yet I do entreat you to tell me the worst." The
more unwilling the fairies seemed to speak, the greater desire the queen
felt to know what was the matter; so at length the principal fairy said:
"We are afraid, Madam, that Rosetta will prove unlucky to her brothers,
and that they will die in some adventure on her account. That is all
that we are able to foresee about your pretty little girl." They then
departed, and left the queen very sad.
[Illustration]
Some time after, the queen was told that there was an old hermit, who
lived in the trunk of a tree, in a neighbouring wood, and whom everybody
went to consult. So she went and consulted the hermit, and he answered,
that the best thing would be to shut the princess up in a tower, and
never allow her to go abroad. The queen thanked him, and having made him
a handsome present, came back and told the king what he had said. The
king immediately ordered a high tower to be built, and when it was
finished, he shut the princess up in it, though he went daily to see his
daughter, accompanied by the queen and the two princes, who were
devotedly attached to their sister. By the time the princess was fifteen
years of age the king and queen fell ill and died the same day, to the
great grief of Rosetta and her brothers. The eldest son was now raised
to the throne, when he said to his brother: "It is time we should let
our sister out of the tower in which she has been so long shut up."
Accordingly they crossed the garden, and having entered the tower,
Rosetta came to meet them, and said: "I hope, Sire, now that you are
king, you will let me out of this tower, where I am so tired of being
shut up." And so saying she burst into tears. But the king told her not
to cry, and that she should not only leave the tower, but soon be
married. When Rosetta came down into the garden, she was delighted with
all she saw, and ran about like a child to gather flowers and fruit,
followed by her little dog Fretillon, who was as green as a parrot, and
had long ears, but who danced most admirably. But when the princess
caught sight of a peacock, she thought it the most beautiful creature in
the world, and asked her brothers what it was. On being told that it was
a bird that was occasionally eaten, she replied that it was a sin and a
shame to eat such a beautiful bird, and added, that she would never
marry any one but the king of the peacocks, and then such a sacrilege
should be forbidden. "But, sister," said the king, greatly astonished,
"where on earth can we find the king of the peacocks?" "That is your
look-out," said the young princess; "all I can say is, that no one else
shall become my husband."
[Illustration]
The two brothers then led her to the palace, whither she insisted on
having the peacock removed, and put into her chamber. All the ladies of
the court, who had not seen Rosetta, then came to pay their respects to
her, and brought her a variety of presents, which she received with such
infantine grace and pretty gratitude, as to delight everybody. The king
and his brother were thinking, meanwhile, how they should contrive to
find the king of the peacocks. At length they had Rosetta's picture
taken, and a speaking likeness it was, and with this they set off on
their difficult errand, leaving the princess to govern the kingdom
during their absence.
They at last reached the kingdom of the Cockchafers, and such a buzzing
there was in it, that the king thought he should go deaf or mad. At
length he asked the one who appeared the most rational of the set, where
he could find the king of the peacocks. "Please your majesty," replied
the cockchafer, "his kingdom is thirty thousand miles from hence, and
you have taken the longest road to reach it." "And pray, how can you
know that?" said the king. "Because," rejoined the cockchafer, "you and
we are old acquaintances, for we spend two or three months in your
gardens every year." The king and his brother embraced the cockchafer
for joy, and then they dined together; and after admiring all the
curiosities of the kingdom, where every leaf was worth a guinea, they
continued their journey, till they reached a country where they saw all
the trees were filled with peacocks, who made such a screeching that
they were to be heard at least two leagues off. The king now said to his
brother: "Should the king of the peacocks be himself a peacock, he will
be an odd husband for our sister. What a pity it is she ever imagined
that there existed such a king!" On reaching the capital, however, they
found it inhabited by men and women, who wore dresses made of peacocks'
feathers; and presently they saw the king coming out of his palace, in a
beautiful little golden carriage studded with diamonds, and drawn by
twelve peacocks. He was extremely handsome, and wore his fine, long,
curly flaxen hair flowing on his shoulders, surmounted by a crown of
peacocks' feathers. On perceiving the two strangers he stopped the
carriage, and inquired what had brought them to his kingdom. The king
and prince then said they came from afar to shew him a beautiful
portrait, and accordingly drew forth Rosetta's likeness. The king of the
peacocks after having attentively examined it, declared he could not
believe there really existed so beautiful a maiden in the world. Upon
which the prince informed him that his brother was a king, and that the
original of the portrait was their sister, the princess Rosetta, who was
a hundred times more beautiful than here represented, and that they came
to offer her to him in marriage, with a bushel of golden crowns for her
portion. "I should willingly marry her," replied the king of the
peacocks, "but I must insist upon her being quite as beautiful as the
picture; and, should I find her inferior in the slightest respect, I
will put you both to death." "Agreed!" cried the brothers. "Well, then,"
said the king, "you must go to prison till the princess arrives." This
they willingly did, and then wrote off to their sister to come
immediately to marry the king of the peacocks, who was dying of love for
her; but they said nothing about their being shut up, for fear of
alarming her.
The princess was half wild with joy when she heard the king of the
peacocks was really found, and she lost no time in setting off with her
nurse, her foster-sister, and her little green dog Fretillon, who were
the only companions she chose to take with her. They put to sea in a
vessel loaded with a bushel of golden crowns, and with clothes enough
for ten years, supposing the princess put on two new dresses every day.
[Illustration]
During the passage, the nurse kept asking the pilot how near they were
to the kingdom of peacocks; and when at last he told her they would soon
reach its shores, the wicked creature said, that if he would help her to
throw the princess into the sea, as soon as she should be asleep that
night, she could then dress up her daughter in her fine clothes, and
present her to the king of the peacocks for his bride, and that she
would give him gold and diamonds so as to make his fortune. The pilot
thought it a pity to drown such a fair princess; but the nurse having
plied him with wine until he was quite tipsy, he gave his consent, and
when night came, he helped her and her daughter to take up Rosetta, when
she was fast asleep, mattress, feather-bed and all, and flung her into
the sea. Fortunately the bed was stuffed with phoenix's feathers, which
possess the virtue of not sinking, so that it kept floating like a
barge. Still, the waves wetted it by degrees, and Rosetta, feeling
uncomfortable, kept turning about in her sleep, till she woke her little
dog, who lay at the foot of her bed. Fretillon had a very fine scent,
and, as he smelt the soles and the cod, he barked aloud, which in turn
woke the fish, who began to swim about and run foul of the princess's
light craft, that kept twisting about like a whirlpool.
Meanwhile the wicked nurse had reached the shore, where she and her
daughter found a hundred carriages waiting for them, drawn by a variety
of animals, such as lions, stags, bears, wolves, horses, oxen, eagles,
and peacocks. The coach intended for Princess Rosetta was drawn by six
blue monkeys, caparisoned with crimson velvet. The nurse had drest up
her daughter in the finest gown she could find, and loaded her head with
diamonds; in spite of which, she appeared so frightful, with her
squinting eyes, oily black hair, crooked legs, and humped shoulder, that
the persons sent by the king of the peacocks to receive her, were
struck with amazement at the sight of her. Being as cross as she was
ill-favoured, she asked them tartly whether they were all asleep, and
why they did not bring her something to eat; and then, distributing her
blows pretty freely, she threatened to have them all hung if they did
not shew a little more alacrity in doing her bidding. As she passed
along in state, the peacocks perched on the trees cried out, "Fie! what
an ugly creature!" which enraged her so that she ordered her guards to
go and kill all the peacocks; but they flew away and only laughed at her
the more. When the pilot heard and saw all this, he whispered to the
nurse: "We are in the wrong box, mistress;" but she bid him hold his
peace.
[Illustration]
When the king came forth to meet her, accompanied by all his nobles, his
peacocks, and the foreign ambassadors staying at his court, preceded by
Rosetta's portrait at the end of a long pole, he was ready to die with
rage and vexation on seeing such a fright; and, without more ado, he
ordered her to be shut up, together with the nurse and the pilot, in the
tower prison. His rage next fell upon the two princes, whom he accused
of making game of him; and they were much surprised when, instead of
being released on their sister's arrival, they were transferred to a
horrible dungeon, where they remained up to their necks in water for
three days. At the end of that time, the king of the peacocks came and
insulted them through a loop-hole, and told them they were a couple of
adventurers, whom he would have hung; upon which, the elder prisoner
replied indignantly, that he was as good a king as himself, and that he
might some day repent his insolent behaviour. Seeing him so firm, the
king of the peacocks had almost a mind to release them at once, and send
them away with their sister, but one of his courtiers persuaded him that
his dignity required he should punish the strangers; so he had them
tried, and they were condemned to be executed for having told a
falsehood, and promising the king a beautiful bride, who had turned out
a horrible fright. When they heard this sentence, they protested so
vehemently that there must be some misunderstanding, which time would
clear up, that they obtained a week's respite. Meanwhile, the poor
princess, who was greatly surprised on waking to find herself in the
middle of the sea, began to weep bitterly, and fancied she had been cast
into the waves by order of the king of the peacocks. After being tossed
about for a couple of days, during which she would have died of hunger
had she not chanced to pass near a bed of oysters, Fretillon's incessant
barking attracted the notice of a good old man, who lived in a solitary
hut on the shore. Thinking some travellers had lost their way, he came
out to help them, when he was much surprised on beholding the princess
in her water bed, calling out to him to save her life. The old man ran
back to fetch a grapple, and towed the bed ashore with some difficulty,
and the princess having wrapt herself in the counterpane, followed him
to his cottage, where he lit a fire, and gave her some clothes that once
belonged to his late wife. Seeing that she must be a lady of high
degree, by the richness of the bed-clothes, which were of satin,
embroidered with gold and silver, the old man questioned her, and having
learnt her story, he offered to go and inform the king of her arrival,
reminding her that she would not have proper fare in his poor house.
But Rosetta would not hear of such a thing, and preferred borrowing a
basket, which she fastened to Fretillon's neck, saying, "Go and fetch me
pot-luck from the best kitchen in the town." Fretillon set off; and, as
there was no better than the king's, he stole all that was in the pot,
and came back to his mistress. She then sent him back to the pantry to
fetch bread, wine, and fruit. Now, when the king of the peacocks wanted
to dine, there was nothing left, either in the pot or the pantry, so he
was in a great rage, and he ordered some joints to be roasted, that he
might, at least, make a good supper. But when evening came, the princess
sent Fretillon to fetch some joints from the best kitchen, and the
little dog again went to the palace, and, whipping the joints off the
spit while the cook's back was turned, he filled his basket and returned
home. The king having missed his dinner, wished to sup earlier than
usual, when again nothing was to be had, and he went to bed in a perfect
fury. The same thing happened the next day, both at dinner and at
supper, so that for three days the king never tasted a morsel; and this
might have gone on much longer had not a courtier concealed himself in
the kitchen, and discovered the four-footed thief, and followed him to
the cottage. The king immediately ordered the inmates of the cottage and
the dog to be taken into custody, and determined they should be put to
death with the two strangers, whose respite was to expire on the morrow.
He then entered the hall of justice to judge the culprits. The old man
knelt before him, and told him Rosetta's whole story; and when the king
cast his eyes upon her, and saw how beautiful she was, he jumped for
joy, and untied the cords that bound her. Meantime the two princes were
sent for, together with the nurse and her daughter; and when they had
all met, Rosetta fell on her brothers' necks, while the guilty nurse and
her daughter, and the pilot, knelt down to implore forgiveness. The king
was so delighted that he pardoned them, and rewarded the old man
handsomely, and insisted on his remaining in his palace. The king of the
peacocks next did all he could to make up for the ill-usage the king and
the prince had suffered. The nurse returned the bushel of golden crowns
and Rosetta's fine clothes; and the wedding rejoicings lasted a whole
fortnight. So everybody was satisfied, not forgetting Fretillon, who was
fed with all sorts of dainties for the rest of his life.
[Illustration]
THE STORY
OF
=Little Red Riding Hood=.
[Illustration]
=Edited by Madame de Chatelain.=
=Little Red Riding Hood.=
In a retired and pleasant village there once lived a little girl, who
was one of the prettiest children ever seen. Her mother loved her to
excess, and as to her grandmother, she was doatingly fond of her, and
looked upon her as the delight of her eyes, and the comfort of her
declining years. The good old dame had a little hood of scarlet velvet
made for her darling, which became her so daintily, that for miles round
she had been nicknamed Little Red Riding Hood.
[Illustration]
One day, when her mother had baked a batch of cakes, she said to Little
Red Riding Hood: "I hear your poor grandam has been ailing, so, prithee,
go and see if she be any better, and take her this cake and a little pot
of butter." Little Red Riding Hood, who was a willing child, and always
ready to be useful, put the things into a basket, and immediately set
off for the village where her grandmother lived, which lay on the other
side of a thick wood. As she reached the outskirts of the forest, she
met a wolf, who would have liked vastly to have devoured her at once,
had there not been some woodcutters near at hand, whom he feared might
kill him in turn. So he sidled up to the little girl, and said, in as
winning a tone as he could assume: "Good morning, Little Red Riding
Hood." "Good morning, Master Wolf," answered she, who had no idea of
being afraid of so civil spoken an animal. "And pray where may you be
going so early?" quoth the wolf. "I am going to my grandmother's,"
replied Little Red Riding Hood, who thought there could be no harm in
telling him. "And what are you carrying in your basket, my pretty
little maid?" continued the wolf, sniffing its contents. "Why, a cake
and a pot of butter," answered simple Little Red Riding Hood, "because
grandmother has been ill." "And where does poor grandmamma live?"
inquired the wolf, in a tone of great interest. "Down beyond the mill,
on the other side of the wood," said she. "Well," cried the wolf, "I
don't mind if I go and see her too. So I'll take this road, and do you
go through the wood, and we'll see which of us shall be there first."
Now, the wily wolf knew well enough that he would be the winner in such
a race. For, letting alone his four feet against poor Little Red Riding
Hood's two, he could dash through the underwood, and swim across a pond,
that would bring him by a very short cut to the old grandam's cottage,
while he shrewdly guessed that the little girl would stop to gather
strawberries, or to make up a posy, as she loitered along the pleasanter
but more roundabout path through the wood. And sure enough the wolf, who
cared neither for strawberries nor for flowers, made such good speed
that he had presently reached the grandmother's cottage. Thump, thump,
went the wolf against the door. "Who is there?" cried the grandam from
within. "Only your grandchild, Little Red Riding Hood," cried the wolf,
imitating the little girl's shrill infantine voice as best he might. "I
have come to bring you a cake and a pot of butter that mother sends
you." The grandmother, being ill, was in bed, so she called out: "Lift
the latch, and the bolt will fall." The wolf did so, and in he went,
and, without saying a word more, he fell upon the poor old creature, and
ate her up in no time, for he had not tasted food for the last three
days. He next shut the door, and, putting on the grandam's nightcap and
nightgown, he got into bed, drew the curtain, and buried his head in the
pillow, and kept laughing in his sleeve at the trick he meant to put
upon poor Little Red Riding Hood, and wondering how long she would be
before she came.
Meanwhile Little Red Riding Hood rambled through the wood with
child-like glee, stopping every now and then to listen to the birds that
were singing so sweetly on the green boughs, and picking strawberries,
which she knew her grandam loved to eat with cream, till she had nearly
filled her basket; nor had she neglected to gather all the pretty
flowers, red, blue, white, or yellow, that hid their sweet little heads
amidst the moss; and of these her apron was at last so full, that she
sat down under a tree to sort them and wind them into a wreath.
[Illustration]