June, 2007
The Princess Rosette - A Fairy Story
II. -- Rosette's First Day in The Royal Palace
Orangine had hoped to win him for a husband. Determined to attract his attention in some way. They proposed, as soon as dinner was over, to sing and play upon the harp.
And Rosette, who was all goodness and kindness, and wanted the love of her sisters, praised their musical talents as much as she could. But, far from appreciating her praise, and from being touched by her generosity, they tried to modify her by asking her to sing and play, for they were sure she would appear to great disadvantage as a musician.
She refused, but they insisted; and the queen, who was equally anxious to humble her, joined her entreaties to theirs, and told her she must give them music. Rosette yielded at last, and went forward and took up the harp.
This was a moment of triumph for the jealous sisters; the next was a moment of defeat. Rosette's graceful bearing surprised them. and when she began her prelude, they were still more surprised, and would have been glad to prevent her playing any more. Her musical talents were evidently so superior to theirs.
Pretty soon she began to sing, and as she poured out sweet, rich tones, in a well-chosen song, such a thrill of admiration ran through the room that her sisters almost fainted with anger and jealousy. Prince Charming seemed transported with delight, and approaching her, said, in a low voice, -
"I have never heard sweeter signing. Let us have some more music, and do not fail to give us your voice with it."
Rosette declined, for she had perceived the jealousy of her sisters; but Prince Charming, who was a man of much penetration, suspected her real motive for declining, and admired her all the more for it.
The sisters were glad that she could not be persuaded to play or sing any more, and so was the queen, their mother. But still they were not satisfied, and feeling the effect of her charms, the queen contrived to break up the gay assemblage early.
The guests retired to their rooms. Rosette went to her humble little room, and taking off her rich dress and dazzling ornaments, put them all into a magnificent ebony box, which - how she didn't know - had found its way into her room. Glancing once more into the wooden box that contained the plain dress she wore to the palace, the coarse blue stockings, and the necklace of dried beans, and the chicken' wing that she had worn for a head-dress, she lay down to rest without an anxious thought, for she felt sure that her godmother, the fairy Powerful, would come to her assistance whenever it was necessary.
Yet Rosette was sad as she thought of the coldness of her parents and the jealousy of her sisters. But her acquaintance with them was so slight that she had no strong attachment to them, and, consequently, the painful impression was easily effaced by thoughts of the noble Prince Charming, who had been so kind and devoted to her all the evening.
With pleasant thoughts of him, she fell asleep. When she waked in the morning the sun was pouring into her room, and she knew it was late. Refreshed by her long sleep, she rose with a strong purpose to meet her trials in palace with both patience and pleasantness.
( To be continued next month)
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