The Brownies and Prince Florimel

in a wonderful country where wond

there was a young p

ugh Florimel was his only son, and of age, he had not

e state, who had designs upon the throne himself. In a covetous frame of mind he had once taken a p

ad that wears a crow

ot wise to make it, for right after that

s of the royal cabinet which made the laws. In his

never could have occupied it. Like other princes he was all that was fair and handsome, but he was very small indeed. He was no larger than the average-sized boy of twelve, an

ok foolish to have such a mite for a king." For they were well informed about the Bro

re, and they failed to realize that sometimes the best goods are d

parents who had never been able to understand it. He had been a fine,

invariably poo-poohed at her suspicions. This godmother was an ex-fairy, but advancing age had interfered with her work of magic. Her joints had beco

second sight and at the same time taken away his size? Depend upon it

has interfered with his growth," said th

e could. Furthermore he could see them at night. Some wise old

r presented to him, a bow and quiver of

e bow and arrows unless there comes to him some moment of great danger. Then let him place

of the arrows from the bow just to see what would happen. With great difficulty he repressed his cur

ch sorrow throughout the entire kingdom, for the queen was a gentle, gracious one whose kind words and good deeds had endeared her to the hearts of a

ful of him. After I am gone he will be king, and I am sure he will rule well and wisely. He is a true king at heart if not

earnestness, but all the while he

e hide his guilty feelings that his brother had no suspicion of any perfidy or

to feats and deeds of great danger and daring with the evil hope that some terrible accident would befall him. But in al

and saw much that was unreal, but with al

s evil designs, he determined upon ev

and were clamoring for a new ruler. So the cabinet met to decide

e throne without question and amid great rejoicing. But we are confronted by a most perplexing question. Prince

I have never seen a handsomer, manlier young fellow. His symmetry is perfect, and he is all that is c

laughing stock of other kingdoms. Think, when the rulers of all these met, and ours came among them, of the mortification we would feel that we did not have a full-grown man t

r to the throne," said another member of the

xt of kin,"

for Florimel you woul

, by which time I think I can find a way out of t

the utmost secrecy, and no one else was present but an old factotum named Gando who was there to lock the door

to himself, "the duke was sharpen

tiptoed noiselessly after him, and placed his f

and caused the few white hairs on his head

e moonlight played and glittered on a lon

uncle. Each added moment increased the prince's danger. Soon escape might be too late. Before he went to warn the sleeping prince he secured the bow and quiver of arrows that

edchamber, and closed the door noiselessly behind him. With his fair head resting on his curved arm, Florimel slept. Gando gave a great

bs. "Rouse yourself, I beg of you, and go hence! Do not delay, or you ma

bed, and tried to rub

l I go, good Ga

etter. You must leave behind you the boundaries of the kingdom

my prince's attir

it you would be quickly recognized, and your uncle

o dress, swung across his back the qu

er's gift," he said, "

the latter printed something on a card which he tacked

xit they heard down the corrid

ike a wild beast a

E! KEEP YOUR EDGED T

mel out into the lonely, starlit night. "O

ped mountain peaks in the distance had a forbidding look and, as though in league with his old uncle, seemed to extend to him but a cool welcome. The wakeful and observing beasts of the wood and wild saw in him a new