December, 2007
The Princess Rosette - A Fairy Story
IV. -- Rosette's Second Day In The Palace
It was not long before the chariots appeared in sight, and the guests at once assembled in the palace court. The chariot designed for the prince and Rosette was soon driven up. Rosette, not suspecting any evil plan, was about to take her seat, when the prince suddenly drew her back.
"Look!" he said; "don't you see how the horses prance and leap, and that it takes three men to hold them? Your death is certain, and so is mine, if we go in this chariot."
These words were no sooner out of his mouth, than a boy, in a white coat and blue satin vest, drove up to the palace gate with a beautiful little chariot, drawn by two snow-white horses, and in a silvery voice, called out, -
"The equipage of Prince Charming and the Princess Rosette!"
"Now, what can that mean?" thought the prince. "Is it another plan of the king and queen to destroy us?"
"The equipage of Prince Charming and the Princess Rosette!" cried out the boy again; and just then the fairy Powerful whispered in the ear of the prince, -
"Have no fears. This equipage is present from me. Help Rosette into the chariot, take your seat by her side, and let the flying horses bear you wherever they will. They have been trained by me, and will be as true to you as I am, and take you safely back to your kingdom before night."
Overjoyed by this interposition of the good fairy, the prince and princess quickly took their seats in the chariot, and the horses started off at lighting speed.
On, on came the king, with a troop of armed men; for his wrath had been thoroughly aroused, he had vowed vengeance on the prince for selecting his "humblest and plainest child for a wife;" but neither his horse nor the horses of the armed men were a match for the fairy horses.
Fast, as on the wings of the wind, flew the swift, beautiful creatures, neither stopping nor slacking their speed for a moment until the gates of a wonderful palace opened wide, and they had passed through into home of Prince Charming.
"You are welcome home," said the fairy Powerful, suddenly making herself visible upon the steps of the palace, and dropping upon the head of Rosette a wreath of pure white roses.
"This is your home. The palace and its blooming gardens are yours, and all the honors and joys of the palace are yours. They are the reward of patience under injuries, of love returned for hate, and of kindness shown to those who regarded you with envy, and despised you for the gifts I had bestowed."
"And will it be well with my father, and mother, and sisters?" Asked Rosette, in the beautiful love of her nature. "O, most strong and loving fairy, do not punish them for anything they have done to me," she added.
The fairy's heart was touched, and her admiration was kindled anew; but she added, -
"They must be punished. Your parents can no longer be among kings and queens, and they must be exiled from their palace, and for ten years live in poverty and seclusion. As to your sisters, they must learn to find comfort in the practice of the humbler virtues they have so much despised, for their beauty is gone."
The fairy Powerful continued: "Envy and jealousy, and all evil passions, have made them old and hideous. But do not despair, my sweet princess. Time and wise punishment will make them good, but not beautiful. What they envied in you they must be content to go without through all their lives; and you must be willing to have it so, for richly is the punishment deserved, and much is it needed."
Then she held princess Rosette's hands, "Your life in this palace will flow on beautifully and joyfully. You will find great delight in the society of prince, and he will find no abatement of pleasure in yours. Farewell, sweet and lovely princess, farewell."
( Be End )
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