GIFT OF Ella Sterling Mighels 6 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/fairytalesOOsgrich EXLIBRI&- FAIRY TALES. BT MADAME LA COMTESSE DE SEGUB. KXB BOSTOPOHIirB. Mas. Chapmai^ Coleman and hbb Dauohtzbs. (nn TBABSLATOBS OV TH8 KVHLXA.OX SOTBU.) THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA Toronto Intered, according to Act of Congreu, In the year 1869, bj PORTER & COATES, li the Olerk'f Office of the DfHtrict Court of the United States, in and for tfat Eastern District of Pennsylvania. TO MY GBANDDAUGHTERS, CAMILLE AND MADELINE DE MALARET, My very dear Children : Here are the tales with which you were so well pleased, and that I promised you to have published. In reading them, dear little ones, think of your old grandmother, who, to please you, has left her seclusion, and offered to public criticism the name of Comtesse De SEGUR, Nee BosTOPomim. CONTENTS BLONDIEE, BONNE-BICHE, AKD BEAU-MINON. OHAPTEB I. Blondine . . . . • II. Blondine Lost • • • III. The Forest of Lilacs . IV. Blondine's Awakening — Beau-Minon V. Bonne-Biche .... YI. Blondine's Second Awakening • VII. The Parrot VIII. Eepentance . • • • IX. The Tortoise . • , • X. The Journey and Arriral . • PAQB 15 20 28 30 33 38 45 55 61 64 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. L The Poor Sick Mother II. The Crow, the Cock, and the Frog III. The Harrest .... rV. The Vintage . . . . 76 19 88 8C fi^i,^,.*^*^- («) CONTENTS, V. The Chase 89 TL The Fishing • • OS Vn. The Plant of Life . . . . » 98 PRINCESS ROSETTE. I. The Farm II. Rosette at the Court of the King her Father III. Family Council . . • • , IV. Second Day of the Festival v. Third and Last Day of the Feitiral . lor 113 120 123 184 THE LITTLE GRAY MOUSE. i. The Little House . • 147 IL The Fairy Detestable 154 ni. Ihe Prince Gracious 167 IV. The Tree in the Rotondo •••••. 173 V. Tke Casket 179 OURSON. L The Lark and the Toad ..•••• 18r n. Birth and Infaney of OwfOtt • • • • • 194 m. Tiolette 19T CONTENTS. zi •aiPTIB PA«I rv. The Dream ••••••• 210 V. The Toad again . • • « . 216 VI. SickiMss and Saorifloe . • 4 . 226 VII. The Wild Boar . . , , , . 230 VIII. The Conflagration . . • , . 240 IX. The Wei . 261 X. The Farm— the Castle— the Porge . 261 XL The Sacrifice \ . 268 XII. XIII. The Combat . • • • < The BeoompeBM » « • . 273 . S84 hdiu, imu-i\kh,mA mm-mmn. HISTOBl OF lending, lonn^-lt£l];c, and Imu- fflinon* CHAPTER FIRST. BLONDINB. 'HERE was once a king called Benin. He was good, and all the world loved him ; he was just, and the wicked feared him. His wife, the Queen Doucette, was also good, and much beloved. This happy pair had a daughter called the Princess Blondine, because of her superb fair hair, and she was aa amiable and charming as her father the king, and ner mother the queen. Unfortunately, the poor queen died a short time »fter the birth of Blondine, and for a long time the (15) ;i6;' : •'..-' :' • MLWCRF OF BLONDINE, king wept bitterly for this great loss. Blondine w«is too young to understand her mother's death :,.^he did not weep, but continued to laugh, to play, and to Bleep peacefully. The king loved her tenderly, and Bhe loved him more than all the world. He gave his little daughter the most beautiful jewels, the finest bonbons, and the most rare and delicious fruits. Blondine was very happy. One day, it was announced to the king, that all his subjects demanded that he should marry again, in order to have a son, who should reign after him. He refused at first, but finally yielded to the pressing desires of his people, and said to his minister Leger : — "My dear friend, my subjects wish me to marry again, but my heart is so sad because of the death of my cherished queen Doucette, that I cannot under- take the task of seeking another wife. Go, then, my good Leger, and find me a princess who will make my sweet Blondine happy. Go ; I ask for nothing more. When you have found a perfect woman, you will demand her hand in marriage, and conduct her to my court." Leger set off immediately, visited many courts, and saw innumerable princesses — ugly, humpbacked, and wicked. BONNEBICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 17 At last he arrived at the kingdom of the monarch Turbulent, who had a lovely daughter, acute, amiable, and apparently good. Leger found her so charming, that he asked her hand in marriage for his king Benin, without sufficiently inquiring into her real character. Turbulent was enchanted at the prospect of getting rid of his daughter, who was jealous, proud, and wicked. Besides this, her presence often interfered with his excursions for pleasure, with the chase, and with his progresses through his kingdom. Without a moment's hesitation, he acceded to Leger's request, who returned with her to the king- dom of the good king Benin. The princess Fourbette was accompanied by four thousand mules, loaded with the jewels and toilet of the charming bride. King Benin had been apprised of their approach by a courier, and went forward to receive the princess Fourbette. He found her beautiful ; but he noted the absence of the mild and attractive expression of the poor lost Doucette. When Fourbette's eyes fell upon Blondine, her glance was so cruel, so wicked, that the poor child, who was now three years old, was greatly terrified, and began to weep bitterly. 2 18 EISTOB Y OF BL ONDINE, "What is the matter?" said the king. "Why does my sweet and sensible Blondine weep like a bad little girl?" " Papa ! dear papa !" cried Blondine, throwing her- self into the arms of the king, " do not give me into the hands of this princess. I am afraid of her — her eyes are cruel !'* The king was much surprised. He turned so sud- denly towards the princess Fourbette, that she had no time to control herself, and he perceived the terrible glance with which she regarded the little Blondine. Benin immediately resolved that Blondine should be wholly separated from the new queen, and remain, as before, under the exclusive protection of the nurse who had taken care of her, and loved her tenderly. - The queen thus saw Blondine rarely, and when she met her by chance, she could not wholly dissimulate the hatred she felt for her. About a year from that time, the queen Fourbette gave birth to a daughter, named Brunette, because of her dark hair, which was black as the raven's wing. Brunette was pretty, but not so lovely as Blondine ; moreover she was as wicked as her mother. She detested Blondine, and played aU sorts of cruel tricks upon her, bit her, pinched her, pulled her hair, brok* her toys, and tore her beautiful dresses. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 19 The good little Blondine was never in a passion with her sister, but always tried to make excuses for her conduct. " Oh, papa !" she said to the king, " do not scold Brunette ; she is so little ! she does not know that she grieves me when she breaks my toys ! It is only in play that she bites me, pulls my hair, and pinches me." The good king embraced his little daughter, and was silent ; but he knew that Brunette was cruel and wicked ; that Blondine was too gentle and good to accuse her. He loved Blondine, therefore, more and more from day to day, and his heart grew cold to Brunette. The ambitious queen Fourbette saw all this clearly, and hated intensely the innocent and gentle Blondine, and if she had not feared the rage of the king, she would have made Blondine the most wretched child in the world. Benin had commanded that Blondine should never be left alone with the queen. He was known to be just and good ; but he punished disobedience severely, •nd the queen herself dared not defy his commands- 20 HIST OB Y OF BL ONDINE, CHAPTER SECOND. BLONDINE LOST. LONDINE was now seven years old, and Brunette three. The king had given Blondine a charming little carriage, drawn by ostriches, and a little coachman, ten years of age, who was the nephew of her nurse. This little page, who was called Gourmandinet, loved Blondine tenderly ; he had been her playmate from her birth, and she had shown him a thousand acts of kindness. But Gourmandinet had one terrible fault ; he was a gourmand — was so fond of dainties and sweet things, that for a paper of bonbons he would commit almost any wicked action. Blondine often said to him : — " I love you dearly, Gourmandinet, but I do not love to see you so greedy. I entreat you to correct yourself of this villanous fault, which will make you despised by all the world." Gourmardinet kissed her hand, and promised to reform. But, alas ! he continued to steal cakes from the kitchen and bonbons from the store-room. Often, BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 21 indeed, he was whipped for his disobedience and gluttony. The queen Fourbette heard on every hand the reproaches lavished upon the page, and she was cun- ning enough to think that she might make use of this villanous fault of Gourmandinet, and thus get rid of poor Blondine. I will now tell you the plot she had conceived. The garden in which Blondine drove in her little carriage, drawn by ostriches, and guided by her little coachman, Gourmandinet, was separated by a grating from an immense and magnificent forest, called the Forest of Lilacs, because during the whole year these lilacs were always covered with superb flowers. No one, however, entered these woods. It was well known that it was enchanted ground, and that if you once entered there you could never hope to escape. Gourmandinet knew the terrible secret of this forest. He had been severely forbidden ever to drive the carriage of Blondine in that direction, lest by some inadvertence Blondine might pass the grating and place her little feet on the enchanted ground. Many times the king Benin had sought to build a waK the entire length of the grating, or to secure it in some way, so as to make an entrance there impos- 22 HIST OB T OF BL ONDINE, sible. But the workmen had no sooner laid the foundation than some unknown and invisible power raised the stones, and thej disappeared from sight- The queen Fourbette now sought diligently to gain the friendship of Gourmandinet, by giving him, every day, some delicious dainties. In this way she made him so complete a slave to his appetite, that he could not live without the jellies, bonbons and cakes which she gave him in such profusion. At last she sent for him to come to her, and said : — " Gourmandinet, it depends entirely upon yourself whether you shall have a large trunk full of bonbons and delicious dainties, or never again eat one during your life." " Never again eat one ! Oh ! madam, I should die of this punishment. Speak, madam, what must I do to escape this terrible fate ?" "It is necessary," said the queen, looking at him fixedly, " that you should drive the princess Blondine near to the Forest of Lilacs." " I cannot do it, madam ; the king has forbidden it." " Ah ! you cannot do it ; well, then, adieu. No more dainties for you. I shall command every one in the he use to give you nothing." '*0h! madam," said Gourmandinet, weeping bit BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON, 2« terly, "do not be so cruel. Give me some ordei which it is in my power to execute." " I can only repeat that I command you to lead thfl princess Blondine near to the Forest of Lilacs ; that you encourage her to descend from the carriage, to cross the grating, and enter the enchanted ground." "But, madam," replied Gourmandinet, turning very pale, " if the princess enters this forest she can never escape from it. You know the penalty of entering upon enchanted ground. To send my dear princess there is to give her up to certain death." "For the third and last time," said the queen, frowning fearfully, "I ask if you will take the princess to the forest ? Choose ! either an immense box of bonbons, which I will renew every month, or never again to taste the delicacies which you love." " But how shall I escape from the dreadful punish- ment which his majesty will inflict upon me?" " Do not be disquieted on that account. As soon as you have induced Blondine to enter the Forest of Lilacs, return to me. I will send you off out of danger with your bonbons, and I charge myself with your future fortune." " Oh ! madam, have pity upon me. Do not compe'i me to lead my dear princess to destruction. She who has always been so good to me !" 24 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, " You still hesitate, miserable coward ! Of what importance is the fate of Blondine to you ? When you have obeyed my commands I will see that you enter the service of Brunette, and I declare to you solemnly that the bonbons shall never fail." Gourmandinet hesitated and reflected a few mo- ments longer, and, alas ! at last resolved to sacrifice his good little mistress to his gluttony. The remainder of that day and night he still hesi- tated and delayed to commit this great crime; but the certainty of the queen's bitter revenge if he refused to execute her cruel orders, and the hope of rescuing Blondine at some future day by seeking the aid of some powerful fairy, conquered his irresolution and decided him to obey the queen. In the morning at four o'clock Blondine ordered her little carriage, and entered it for a drive, after having embraced the king her father, and promised him to return in two hours. The garden was immense. Gourmandinet, on starts ing, turned the ostriches away from the Forest of Lilacs. Whfcn, however, they were entirely out of light of the palace, he changed his course, and turned towards the grating which separated them from the enchanted ground. He was sad and silent. His crime weighed upon his heart and conscience. BONNE-BICEE, AND BEAV-MINON. 26 "What is the matter?" said Blondine, kindly. •* You say nothing. Are you ill, Gourmandinet ?" "No, my princess, I am well." " But how pale you are ! Tell me what distresses you, poor boy, and I promise to do all in my power to make you happy." Blondine's kind inquiries and attentions almost softened the hard heart of Gourmandinet, but the remembrance of the bonbons promised by the wicked queen, Fourbette, soon chased away those good im- pressions. Before he had time to reply, the ostriches reached the grating of the Forest of Lilacs. "Oh! the beautiful lilacs!" exclaimed Blondine; " how fragrant — how delicious ! I must have a large bouquet of those splendid flowers for my good papa. Get down, Gourmandinet, and bring me some of those superb branches." "I cannot leave my seat, princess, the ostriches might run away with you during my absence." "Do not fear," replied Blondine; "I could guide them myself to the palace." "But the king would give me a terrible scolding for having abandoned you, princess. It is best that you go yourself and select and gather your flowers." " That is true. I should be very sorry to get you a scolding, my poor Gourmandinet." 3 26 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, While saying these words she sprung lightly from the carriage, crossed the bars of the grating, and commenced to gather the flowers. At this moment Gourmandinet shuddered, and was overwhelmed with remorse. He wished to repair his fault by calling Blondine ; but, although she was only ten steps from him, — although he saw her perfectly, — she could not hear his voice, and in a short time she was lost to view in the enchanted forest. For a long time Gourmandinet wept over his crime, cursed his gluttony, and despised the wicked queen Fourbette. At last he recalled to himself that the hour approached in which Blondine would be expected at the palace. He returned to the stables through the back entrance, and ran at once to the queen, who was anxiously expecting him. On seeing him so deadly pale, and his eyes inflamed from the tears of awful remorse, she knew that Blon- dine had perished. " Is it done ?" said she. Gourmandinet bowed his head; he had not th« •trength to speak. " Come," said she, " behold your reward !" She pointed to a large box full of delicious bonbons of erery Tariety. She commanded a ralet to raise BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON. 2T the box, and place it upon one of the mules which had brought her jewelry. " I confide this box to Gourmandinet, in order that he may take it to my father," she said. " Go, boy, and return in a month for another." She placed at the same time in his hand a purse full of gold. Gourmandinet mounted the mule in perfect silence, and set off in full gallop. The mule was obstinate and wilful, and soon grew restive under the weight of the box, and began to prance and kick. He did this so effectually that he threw Gourmandinet and his precious box of bonbons upon the ground. Gourmandinet, who had never ridden upon a horse or mule, fell heavily with his head upon the stones, and died instantly. Thus he did not receive from his crime the profit which he had hoped ; he had not even tasted of the bonbons which the queen had given him. No one regretted him. No one but the poor Blon- dine had ever loved him. We will now rejoin this unfortunate princess in th« Forest of Lilacs. 28 HISTORY OF BL ONLINE, CHAPTER THIRD. THE FOREST OP LILACS. 'HEN Blondine entered the forest she com- menced gathering the splendid branches of lilacs. She rejoiced in their profusion, and delighted in their fragrance. As she made her selection, it seemed to her that those which were more distant were still more beautiful; so she emptied her apron, and her hat, which were both full, and filled them again and again. Blondine had been thus busily occupied for about an hour. She began to suffer from the heat, and to feel great fatigue. She found the branches of lilacs heavy to carry, and thought it was time to return to the palace. She looked around, and saw herself surrounded with lilacs. She called Gour- mandinet, but no one replied. "I have wandered off further than I intended," eaid Blondine. " I will retrace my steps at once, though I am much fatigued. Gourmandinet will hear me, and will surely come to meet me.'* Blondine walked on rapidly for some time, but she could not see the boundaries of the forest. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON. 29 Many times she called anxiously upon Gourmandi* net, but he did not respond, and at last she becamo terribly frightened. "What will become of me, all alone in this vast forest ? What will my poor papa think when I do not return ? and Gourmandinet, how will he dare go back to the palace without me ? Ho will be scolded, perhaps beaten, and all this is my fault, because I would leave my carriage to gather lilacs? Unfor- tunate wretch that I am ! I shall die of hunger and thirst in this forest if the wolves do not eat me up this night." Saying thus, and weeping bitterly, Blondine fell on the ground at the foot of a large tree. She wept a long time. At last her great fatigue mastered her grief; she placed her little head upon her bundle of lila/«, and slept peacefully. 3* 80 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, CHAPTER FOURTH. BLONDINE'S AWAKING — BBAU-MIN ON. LONDINE slept calmly all night; no ferocious beast came to trouble her slumbers. She did not suffer from the cold, and awaked at a late hour in the morning. She rubbed her eyes, much surprised to see herself surrounded by trees, in place of being in her own room in the palace, and upon her own bed. She called her nurse, and a soft mewing was the only response. Astonished, and almost frightened, Bhe looked around, and saw at her feet a superb white cat, looking gently upon her, and continuing to mew plaintively. " Ah ! pretty puss ! how beautiful you are !*' cried Blondine, placing her little hand caressingly upon the soft fur, white as snow. " I am so happy to see you, pretty puss, for you will conduct me to your home. I am indeed very hungry, and I have not the strength to walk much further without food." Blondine had scarcely uttered these words, when the white pussy mewed again, and pointed with her little paw to a small package lying near her, wrapped BONNE-BICHF, AND BEAU-MINOK 31 neatly in fine white linen. She opened the parcel, and found it contained bread and butter, which she found delicious ; she gave the crumbs to pussy, who seemed to munch them with delight. When they had finished their simple meal, Blondine leaned over towards her little companion, and said, caressingly : — " Thanks, pretty puss, for the breakfast you have given me. Now, can you conduct me to my papa, who is certainly in despair because of my absence?" Pussy, whom we will call Beau-Minon, shook her head and mewed plaintively. "Ah! you understand me, Beau-Minon," said Blondine. " I entreat you to have pity upon me, and lead me to some house before I perish with hunger, cold, and terror, in this vast forest !" Beau-Minon looked at the princess fixedly, and made a sign with her little graceful white head, which seemed to say, "I comprehend you." She rose, advanced some steps, and paused to see if Blondine followed her. "I am here, Beau-Minon*; I am following you gladly," said Blondine; "but how can we pasa through these bushy thickets ? I see no path." Beau-Minon made no reply, but sprang lightly into the thicket, which opened of itself, to allow Blondint 32 EISTOR Y OF BL ONLINE, and Beau-Minon to pass, and then closed up immedi- ately. Blondine walked on for about half an hour. Aa fihe advanced, the forest became more luminous, the grass was finer, and the flowers more abundant. She saw many pretty birds, singing melodiously, and graceful squirrels, bounding along the branches of the trees. Blondine, who had no doubt that she was about to leave the forest, and see her dear father again, was enchanted with all that she saw ; she wished to pause and gather the lovely wild flowers ; but Beau-Minon advanced steadily, and mewed plaintively, whenever Blondine relaxed her speed. In about an hour, Blondine perceived an elegant castle. Beau-Minon led her to the gilded grating. Blondine did not know, however, how to enter. There was no bell, and the gate was closed. Beau-Minon had disappeared, and Blondine was once more alone. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAV-MINON, 33 CHAPTER FIFTH. BONNB-BICHB. EAU-MINON had entered by a little passage, which seemed made expressly for him, and had probably given notice to some one at the castle, as the gate opened without Blondine having called. She entered the court-yard, and saw no one. The door of the castle opened of itself. Blon- dine entered the vestibule, which was of rare white marble. All the doors of the castle now opened like the first, and the princess passed through a suite of beautiful saloons. At last, in the back part of a charming saloon, fur- nished with blue and gold, she perceived a white hind, couched upon a bed of fine and fragrant grasses. Beau-Minon stood near her. The pretty hind saw Blondine, arose, and approached her. "You are most welcome, Blondine," said she, " My son Beau-Minon and myself have expected you for a long time." At these words, Blondine seemed much frightened. " Take courage, princess ; you are with friends. I 84 HISTOR Y OF BL ONDINE, know the king your father, and I love him, and 1 love you also." "Oh, madam," said Blondine, "if you know the king my father, I beseech you to conduct me to him; my absence must make him very wretched." " My dear Blondine," said Bonne-Biche, sighing, " it is not in my power to conduct you to your father. You are in the hands of the magician of the Forest of Lilacs. I myself am subject to his power, which is superior to mine ; but I can send soft dreams to your father, which will reassure him as to your fate, and apprise him that you are safe with me." "How, madam!" said Blondine, in an agony of grief, " shall I never again see my father, whom I love BO tenderly ? My poor father !" " Dear Blondine, do not distress yourself as to the future. Wisdom and prudence are always recom- p«nsed. You will see your father again, but not now. In the mean time be good and docile. Beau-Minon and myself will do all in our power to make you happy." Blondine sighed heavily and shed a few tears. She then reflected that to manifest such grief was a poor recompense for all the goodness of Bonne-Biche. She resolved, therefore, to control herself and to be cheerful. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON. 35 Bonne-Biche took her to see the apartment they destined for her. The bedroom was hung with rose- colored silk, embroidered with gold. The furniture was covered with white velvet, worked with silks of the most brilliant hues. Every species of animal, bird, and butterfly were represented in rare embroi- dery. Adjoining Blondine's chamber was a small study. It was hung with sky-blue damask, embroidered with fine pearls. The furniture was covered with silver moir^, adorned with nails of turquoise. Two magnifi- cent portraits, representing a young and superbly handsome woman, and an elegant and attractive y )ung man, hung on the walls. Their costumes ina.'cated that they were of royal race. "Whose portraits are these, madam?" sai- Blon- dine to Bonne-Biche. "I am forbidden to answer that question, dear Blondine. You will know later; — but this is the hour for dinner. Come, Blondine, I am sure you are hungry." Blondine was in fact almost dying of hunger. She followed Bonne-Biche with alacrity, and entered the dining-room, where she saw a table strangely served. An enormous cushion of black satin was placed on the floor for Bonne-Biche. On the table before her 36 HIST OR T OF BL ONDINE, was a vase filled with the choicest herbs, fresh and nutritious; near this vase was a golden bucket, filled with fresh and limpid water. Opposite Bonne-Biche was a little stool for Beau- Minon; before him was a little porringer in gold, filled with little fried fish and the thighs of snipes ; at one side, a bowl of rich crystal, full of fresh milk. Between Beau-Minon and Bonne-Biche a plate was placed for Blondine. Her chair was of carved ivory, covered with crimson velvet, attached with nails of diamonds. Before her was a gold plate, richly chased, filled with delicious soup, made of a young pullet and fig-birds ; her glass and water-bottle were of carved rock-crystal ; a muflSn was placed by her side, and her fork and spoon were of gold ; her napkin was of linen, finer than anything she had ever seen. The table was served by gazelles, who were marvel- lously adroit. They waited, carved, and even divined the wishes of Blondine, Bonne-Biche, and Beau- Minon. The dinner was exquisite — the chicken was splendid, the game and fish most delicate, the pastry and bonbons superlative. Blondine was hungry ; she ate of all, and found all excellent. After dinner, Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon con- ducted the princess into the garden. She found there the most nutritious fruits and lovely walks. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON. 87 After a charming walk, Blondine entered the castle with her new friends, much fatigued. Bonne-Biche proposed to her to retire, which she agreed to joyfully. Blondine entered her chamber, and found two gazelles waiting to attend her. They disrobed her with grace and adroitness, placed her in bed, and seated themselves by her couch to watch over her. Blondine was soon peacefully asleep — not, however, without having first thought of her father, and wept bitterly over her cruel separation from him. 88 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, CHAPTER SIXTH. BLONDINE'S SECOND AWAKENINat. LONDINE slept profoundly, and on awaking, she found herself entirely changed. Indeed, it seemed to her she could not be the same person. She was much taller, her intellect was developed, her knowledge enlarged. She remembered a number of books she thought she had read during her sleep. She was sure she had been writing, drawing, singing, and playing on the piano and harp. She looked around, however, and knew that the chamber was the same to which Bonne-Biche had con- ducted her, and in which she had gone to sleep. Agitated, disquieted, she rose and ran to the glass. She saw that she was much grown, and we must con- fess she found herself charming; a hundred times mare beautiful than when she retired the night before. Her fair ringlets fell to her feet; her complexion was like the lily and the rose; her eyes celestial blue; her nose beautifully formed ; her cheeks rosy as the mom ; her form erect and graceful. In short, Blon- BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-mNON. 89 dine thought herself the most beautiful perscn she had ever seen. Trembling, almost frightened, she dressed herself hastily, and ran to seek Bonne-Biche, whom sh* found in the apartment where she had first seen her " Bonne-Biche, Bonne-Biche !" she exclaimed, " 1 entreat you to explain to me the change which I see and feel in myself. Last night I went to sleep a child — I awoke this morning, and found myself a young lady. Is this an illusion, or have I indeed grown and developed thus during the night?'* " Yes, my dear Blondine, you are fourteen years old to-day. But you have slept peacefully seven years. My son Beau-Minon and myself wished to spare you the weariness of all early studies. When you first entered the castle you knew nothing ; not even how to read. I put you to sleep for seven years, and Beau-Minon and myself have passed this time in instructing you during your sleep. I see by the wonder expressed in your eyes, sweet princess, that you doubt all this. Come, now, into your study, and reassure yourself on this point." Blondine followed Bonne-Biche to the little room. She ran first to the piano, commenced playing, and found that she played remarkably well. She then 40 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, tried the harp, and drew from it the most ravishin^ Bounds, and sang enchantingly. She took her pencil, and brushes, and drew and painted with a facility which denoted a true talent. She wrote, and found her handwriting clear and elegant. She looked at the countless books which were ranged round the room, and knew that she had read them all. Surprised, ravished, she threw her arms around the neck of Bonne-Biche, embraced ? eau-Minon tenderly, and said to them : — " Oh ! my dear, true, good friends, what a debt of gratitude do I owe you for having thus watched over my infancy, and developed my intellect and my heart. I feel how much I am improved in every respect, and I owe it all to you." Bonne-Biche returned her caresses, and Beau- Minon patted her hand delicately. After the first few happy moments had passed, Blondine cast down her eyes, and said timidly : — " Do not think me ungrateful, my dear, good friends, if I wish you to add one more to the benefits you have already conferred upon me. Tell me something of my father. Dees he still weep my absence ? is he happy since he lost me?" " Dear Blondine, your anxiety on this point is most BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 41 natural, and shall be relieved. Look in this mirror, Blondine, and you shall see the king your father, and all that has passed since you left the palace." Blondine raised her eyes to the mirror, and saw into the apartment of her father. The king seemed much agitated, and was walking backwards and for- wards. He appeared to be expecting some one. The queen, Fourbette, entered, and related to him that notwithstandi: - the remonstrances of Gourman- dinet, Blondine had herself seized the reins, and guided the ostriches, who, becoming frightened, dashed off in the direction of the Forest of Lilacs, and overturned the carriage. Blondine was thrown over the grating which bounded the forest. She stated that Gourmandinet had become insane from terror and grief, and she had sent him home to his parents. The king was in wild despair at this news. He ran to the Forest of Lilacs, and he had to be withheld by force from throwing himself across the boundary, in order to search for his cherished Blondine. They carried him to the palace, where he yielded to the most frightful sorrow and despair, calling unceasingly upon his dear Blondine, his be- loved child. At last; overcome by grief, he slept, and saw in a dream Blondine in the castle of Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon. Bonne-Biche gave 4* 42 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, him the sweet assurance that Blondine should one day be restored to him, and that her childhood should be calm and happy. The mirror now became misty, and everything dis- appeared ; then again clear as crystal, and Blondine saw her father a second time. He had become old ; his hair was white as snow, and his countenance was Bad. He held in his hand a little portrait of Blon- dine ; his tears fell upon it, and he pressed it often to his lips. The king was alone. Blondine saw neither the queen nor Brunette. Poor Blondine wept bitterly. "Alas!" said she, "why is my dear father alone? Where is the queen? where is Brunette?'* " The queen," said Bonne-Biche, " showed so little grief at your death, my princess, that your father's heart was filled with hatred and suspicion towards her, and he sent her back to the king Turbulent, her father, who confined her in a tower, where she soon died of rage and weariness. All the world supposed you to be dead. As to your sister Brunette, she became so wicked, so insupportable, that the king hastened to give her in marriage last year to the prince Violent, who charged himself with the duty of reforming the character of the cruel and envious princess Brunette . The prince was stern and harsh. Brunette saw that BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON, 43 hei wicked heart prevented her from being happy, and *h(» commenced trying to correct her faults. You will see her again, some day, dear Blondine, and your example may complete her reformation.'* Blondine thanked Bonne-Biche tenderly for all these details. Her heart prompted her to ask, " But when shall I see, my father and sister ?" But she feared to appear ungrateful and too anxious to leave the castle of her good friends. She resolved then to await another more suitable opportunity to ask this question. The days of Blondine passed away quietly and without tediousness. She was much occupied, and was sometimes melancholy. She had no one to talk with but Bonne-Biche, and she was only with her during the hours of lessons and repasts. Beau-Minon could not converse, and could only make himself understood by signs. The gazelles served Blondine with zeal and intelligence, but they had not the gift of speech. Blondine walked every day, always accompanied by Beau-Minon, who pointed out to her the most lovely and sequestered paths, and the rarest and richest flowers. Bonne-Biche had made Blondine promise solemnly never to leave the enclosure of the park, and never to enter the forest. Many times Blondine had asked 44 HISTORY OF BL ONLINE, Bonne-Biche the reason of this prohibition. Sighing profoundly, she had replied : — "Ah, Blondine ! do not seek to penetrate the forest. It is a fatal spot. May you never enter there." Sometimes Blondine mounted a pavilion which was built on an eminence near the boundary of the forest. She looked admiringly and longingly at the magni- ficent trees, the lovely and fragrant flowers, the thousand graceful birds flying and singing, and seem ing to call her name. "Alas!" said she, "why will not Bonne-Biche allow me to walk in this beautiful forest ? What pos- sible danger can I encounter in that lovely place, and under her protection?" Whenever she was lost in these reflections. Beau* Minon, who seemed to comprehend what was passing in her heart, mewed plaintively, pulled her robe, and tried to draw her from the pavilion. Blondine smiled sweetly, followed her gentle com- panion, and recommenced her walk in the solitary park. BONNE'BICHE, AND BEAV-MINOK 45 CHAPTER SEVENTH. THE PARROT. IX months had passed since Blondine awaked from her seven years' sleep. It seemed to the little princess a long time. The remembrance of her dear father often saddened her heart. Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon seemed to divine her thoughts. Beau-Minon mewed plaintively, and Bonne-Biche heaved the most profound sighs. Blondine spoke but rarely of that which occupied her thoughts continually. She feared to offend Bonne-Biche, who had said to her three or four times : — " Dear Blondine, be patient. You will see your father when you are fifteen, if you continue wise and good. Trust me, dear child ; do not trouble yourself about the future ; and, above all, do not seek to leave us." One morning Blondine was alone and very sad. She was musing upon her singular and monotonous existence. She was disturbed in her reverie by three soft little strokes upon her window. Raising her head, she perceived a parrot with beautiful greer plumage, and throat and breast of bright orange. 46 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, Surprised at the appearance of a bird entirolj un- known to her, she opened the window, and invited the parrot to enter. What was her amazement when the bird said to her, in a fine sharp voice : — " Good day, Blondine ! I know that you sometimes have a very tedious time of it, because you have no one to talk to. I have taken pity upon you, and come to have a chat with you. But I pray you do not say that you have seen me, for Bonne-Biche would cut my throat if she knew it." " Why so, beautiful Parrot ? Bonne-Biche is good ; she injures no one, and only hates the wicked.'* " Blondine, listen ! If you do not promise to con- ceal my visit from Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon, I will fly away at once, and never return.'* " Since you wish it so much, beautiful Parrot, I will promise silence. Let us chat a little. It is a long time since I had an opportunity to converse. You seem to me gay and witty. I do not doubt that you will amuse me much." Blondine listened with delight to the lively talk of the Parrot, who complimented her beauty, her wit, and her talents extravagantly. Blondine was enchanted. In about an hour tht Parrot flew away, promising to return the next day BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK. 47 In short, hb returned every day, and continued to compliment and amuse her. One morning he struck upon the window and said : — " Blondine ! Blondine ! open the window, quickly ! I bring you news of your father. But, above all, make no noise, unless you want my throat cut." Blondine was overwhelmed with joy, — opened the window with alacrity, and said : " Is it true, my beau- tiful Parrot, that you bring me news of my dear father ? Speak quickly ! What is he doing ? how is he?" "Your father is well, Blondine, but he weeps your loss always. I have promised him to employ all my power to deliver you from your prison ; but I can do nothing without your assistance." " My prison !" said Blondine. " But you are igno- rant of all the goodness which Bonne-Biche and Beau- Minon have shown me; of the pains they have lavished upon my education ; of all their tenderness and forbearance. They will be enchanted to find a way of restoring me to my father. Come with me, beautiful Parrot, and I will present you to Bonne- Biche. Come, I entreat you." "Ah! Blondine," said the sharp voice of the Parrot, ** it is you, princess, who do not know Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon. They detest me because I have 48 HISTORY OF BL ONLINE, Bometimes succeeded in rescuing their victims from them. You will never see your father again, Blon- dine; you will never leave tLis forest, unless you yourself shall break the charm which holds you here." "What charm?" said Bl ndine. "I know of no charm ; and what inter e u have Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon in keeping ae a prisoner?" "Is it not their interest to enliven their solitude, Blondine? There is a talisman which can procure your release. It is a sim}. le Rose, which, gathered by yourself, will deliver you from your exile, and restore you to the arms of your fond father." " But there is not a single Rose in the garden. How, then, can I gather one?" " I will explain this to you another day, Blondine ; now I can tell you no more, as I see Bonne-Biche is coming. But, to convince you of the virtues of the Rose, entreat Bonne-Biche to give you one, and Bee what she will say. To-morrow — to-morrow, Blon- dine!" The Parrot flew away, well content to have scattered in Blondine's heart the first seeds of discontent and ingratitude. The Parrot had scarcely disappeared when Bonne- Biche entered. She appeared greatly agitated. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 49 " With whom have you been talking, Blondine ?" looking suspiciously towards the open window. " With no one, madan," said the princess. " I am certain I hear ' voices in conversation." " I must have been speaking to myself." Bonne-Biche made no reply. She was very sad, and tears fell from her eye ' Blondine was also engrossed in reflection. The cunning words of the Parroc made her look upon the kindness of Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon in a totally different light. In place of saying to herself that a hind, which had the power to speak, to make wild beasts intelli- gent, to put an infpTit to sleep for seven years, to dedi- cate seven years to a tiresome and ignorant little girl ; in short, a hind lodged and served like a queen, could be no ordinary criminal; in place of cherishing a sentiment of gratitude for all that Bonne-Biche had done for her, Blondine, alas ! believed blindly in the Parrot, the unknown bird of whose character and veracity she had no proof. She did not remember that the Parrot could have no possible motive for risking its life to render her a service. Blondine believed it, though, implicitly, because of the flattery which the Parrot had lavished upon her. She did not even recall with gratitude the sweet and happy exist- 5 60 BISTOR Y OF BL ONDINE, ence which Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon had secured to her. She resolved to follow implicitly the counsels of the Parrot. During the course of the day she said to Bonne-Biche : — " Why, madam, do I not see among your flowers the most lovely and charming of all flowers — the fragrant Rose?" Bonne-Biche was greatly agitated, and said, in a trembling voice : — " Blondine ! Blondine ! do not ask for this most perfidious flower, which pierces all who touch it! Never speak to me of the Rose, Blondine ; you cannot know what fatal danger this flower contains for you !" The expression of Bonne-Biche was so stern and severe, that Blondine dared not insist further. The day passed away sadly enough. Bonne-Biche was unhappy, and Beau-Minon very sad. Early in the morning, Blondine ran to her window, and the Parrot entered the moment she opened it. "Well, my dear Blondine, have you noticed the agitation of Bonne-Biche, when you mentioned the Rose? I promised you to point out the means by which you could obtain one of these charming flowers. Listen now to my counsel. You will leave this park ftnd enter the forest. I will accompany you, and I BONNE-BICHE AND BEAU-MINON. 61 will conduct you to a garden where you will find the most beautiful Rose in the world !" " But how is it possible for me to leave the park ? Beau-Minon always accompanies me in my walks.'* " Try to get rid of him," said the Parrot ; " but if that is impossible, go in spite of him." " If this Rose is at a distance, will not my absence be perceived ?" "It is about an hour's walk. Bonne-Biche has been careful to separate you as far as possible from the Rose, in order that you might not find the means to escape from her power." " But why does she wish to hold me captive ? She is all-powerful, and could surely find pleasures more acceptable than educating an ignorant child." " All this will be explained to you in future, Blon- dine, when you will be in the arms of your father. Be firm ! After breakfast, disembarrass yourself in some way of Beau-Minon, and enter the forest. I will expect you there." Blondine promised, and closed the window, fearing that Bonne-Biche would surprise her. After breakfast, according to her usual custom, she entered the garden. Beau-Minon followed her, in spite of some rude rebufis, which he received with plaintive mews. Arrived at the alley which led out 62 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, of the park, Blondine resolved to get rid of Beau Minon. "I wish to be alone/' said she, sternly; "begone, Beau-Minon V* Beau-Minon pretended not to understand. Blon- dine was impatient and enraged ; she forgot herself BO far as to strike Beau-Minon with her foot. When poor Beau-Minon received this humiliating blow, he uttered a cry of anguish and fled towards the palace. Blondine trembled at the sound, and was on the point of recalling him and renouncing the Hose, and confess- ing all to the good Hind, when a false shame arrested her. She walked on rapidly to the gate, opened it, not without trembling, and entered the forest. The Parrot joined her without delay. " Courage, Blondine ! in one hour you will have the Rose, and will see your father, who weeps for you." At these words, Blondine recovered her resolution, which had begun to falter; she walked on in the path indicated by the Parrot, who flew before her from branch to branch. The forest, which had seemed so beautiful and attractive near to the park of Bonne- BicLe, became wilder and more entangled. Brambles and stones almost filled up the path, the sweet songs <)f the birds were no longer heard, and the flowers had BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 58 entirely disappeared. Blondine felt oppressed by an inexplicable restlessness. The Parrot pressed her dagerly to advance. ** Quick, quick, Blondine ! time flies ! If Bonne» Biche perceives your absence and pursues you, she will kill me, and you will never again see your father." Blondine, fatigued, almost breathless, with her arms torn by the briers, and her shoes in shreds, now de- clared that she would go no further ; when the Parrot exclaimed : — " We have arrived, Blondine. Look ! that is the enclosure which separates us from the Rose." Blondine saw at a turn in the path a small enclosure, the gate of which was quickly opened by the Parrot. The soil was arid and stony, but a magnificent, majes- tic rose-bush grew in the midst of this sterile spot, adorned with one Rose, which was more beautiful than all the roses of the world. "Take it, Blondine!" said the parrot; "you de- serve it — you have truly earned it!" Blondine seized the branch eagerly, and, in spite of the thorns, which pierced her fingers cruelly, she tore it from the bush. The Ro«e was scarcely firmly grasped in her hand, 5* 64 HISTORY OF BLOND INE, when she heard a burst of mocking laughter. Th« Flower fell from her grasp, crying : — " Thanks, Blondine, for having delivered me from the prison in which Bonne-Biche held me captive. I am your evil genius ! Now you belong to me !" " Ha . ha !" now exclaimed the Parrot. " Thanks, Blondine ! I can now resume my form of magician. I had more difficulty in tempting and deceiving you than I expected. I flattered your vanity, and in this way it was easy to make you ungrateful and disobedi- dient. You have destroyed your friends ; for I am their mortal enemy !" Saying tbese cruel words, the Parrot and the Rose disappeared, leaving Blondine alone in the forest. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MDWK 65 CHAPTER EIGHTH. RBPENTANCB. LONDINE was stupefied! her conduct no-w appeared to her in all its horror; she had shown a monstrous ingratitude towards the friends who had been so tenderly devoted ta her — who had dedicated seven years to the care of her education. Would these kind friends ever receive her, ever pardon her ? What would be her fate, if they should close their d^ors against her? And then, what did those awful words of the wicked Parrot signify : " You have caused the destruction of your friends ?" Blondine turned round, and wished to retrace her steps to the castle of Bonne-Biche. The briers and thorns tore her arms and face terribly. She con- tinued, however, to force her way bravely through the thickets, and, after three hours of most painful walk- ing, she came before the castle of Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon. Horror seized upon her, when, in place of the superb building, she saw only an appalling ruin — in 66 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, place of the magnificent trees and rare flowers which surrounded it, only briers and thorns, nettles and thistles, could be seen. Terrified and most desolate, she tried to force her way in the midst of the ruins, to seek some knowledge of her kind friends. A large Toad issued from a pile of stones, advanced before her, and said : — " What are you seeking ? Have you not occasioned the death of your friends by the basest ingratitude ? Begone ! do not insult their memory by your unwel- come presence !" " Alas ! alas !" cried Blondine, " my poor friends, Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon, why can I not expiate by my death the sufierings I have caused them ?" And she fell, sobbing piteously, upon the stones and net- tles ; her grief and her repentance were so excessive, that she did not feel their sharp points in her tender flesh ; she wept profusely a long time. At last she arose and looked about her, hoping to find some shel- ter where she might take refuge. Ruin only stared her in the face ! "Well," said she, "let the wild beasts tear me to pieces, let me die of hunger and thirst, if I can expiate my sins here upon the tomb of Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon !" As she uttered these words, she heard a soft voice BONNE-BICEE, AND BEAU-MINON. 67 saying : " True repentance can redeem the worst of crimes." She raised her head, and saw only an immense black Crow flying above her. "Alas! alas!" said Blondine, "my repentance, however true, however bitter it may be, can never give me back the lives of my dear Bonne-Biche and Beau- Minon !" " Courage, courage, Blondine ! redeem your fault by your repentance, and do not allow yourself to bo utterly cast down by grief." The poor princess arose, and withdrew from this scene of desolation. She followed a little path, where the large trees seemed to have rooted out the bram- bles, and the earth was covered with moss. She was utterly exhausted with grief and fatigue, and fell at the foot of a large tree, sobbing piteously. " Courage, Blondine !" said another voice ; " cour- age and hope !" She saw only a Frog near her, which was looking at her compassionately. " Poor Frog !" said the princess, " you seem to pity my anguish I What will become of me, now that I am alone and desolate in the world ?" " Courage and hope !" was the reply. Blondine sighed deeply and looked around, hoping 58 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, to discover some herb or fruit to appease her Lungei and thirst. She saw nothing, and her tears flowed freely. The sound of bells now somewhat dissipated her despairing thoughts. She saw a beautiful cow approaching her, gently and slowly, which, on arriv- ing near her, paused, bowed down, and showed her a porringer attached to her neck. Blondine was very grateful for this unexpected succor. She detached the porringer, milked the cow, and drank the sweet milk with delight. The pretty, gentle cow signed to her to replace the porringer. Blondine obeyed, kissed her on the neck, and said, sadly : — " Thanks, Blanchette, it is without doubt to my poor friends that I owe this sweet charity. Perhaps in another and better world they witness the repent- ance of their poor Blondine, and wish to ameliorate her frightful position." "A true repentance will obtain pardon for all faults,** said a kind voice. ** Ah !** exclaimed Blondine, " years of sorrow and weeping for my crimes would not suffice! I can never pardon myself!** In the mean time the night approached. Notwith standing her anguish and repentance, Blondine began to reflect upon some means of securing herself from BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAUMINOK 69 the ferocious wild beasts, whose terrible roars she already believed she heard in the distance. She saw some steps before her a kind of hut, formed by several trees growing near together and interlacing their branches ; bowing her head, she entered, and found that by adroitly attaching some branches ishe could form a pretty and secure retreat. She employed the remainder of the day in arranging this little room, and gathered a quantity of moss, with which she made herself a bed and pillow. She concealed the entrance to this little retreat by some broken branches and leaves, and went to rest, utterly worn out with excite- ment and fatigue. When Blondine awoke it was broad daylight. At first she could scarcely collect her thoughts and under- stand her position; but the sad realities of her lot were soon apparent to her, and she commenced groan- ing and weeping as before. Blondine was hungry, and much disquieted on this point, when she heard again joyfully the sound of the cow-bells. Some moments after, Blanchette stood near her. Blondine again loosened the porringer, drew the milk and drank till her hunger was appeased, then replaced the porringer and kissed Blanchette, hoping to see her again during the day. E?ery day— in the morning, at midday, and in the evening — ^Blan- chette came to offer Blondine her frugal repasu 30 HISTORY OF BLONBINEy Blondine passed the time in tears for her poor friends, and bitter self-reproach for her crimes. " By my unpardonable disobedience," she said to herself, " I have caused the most terrible misfortunes, which it is not in my power to repair. I have not only lost my good and true friends, but I am deprived of the only means of finding my father, my poor father, who perhaps still expects his Blondine, hia most unhappy Blondine, condemned to live and die alone in this frightful forest, where her evil genius reigns supreme." Blondine sought to amuse and employ herself in every possible way. Her little home was neatly arranged ; fresh moss and leaves composed her simple couch ; she had tied some branches together and formed a seat ; she made herself some needles and pins of the thorns, and twisted some thread from the hemp which grew near her little hut, and with these implements she had mended the rents in her shoes. In this simple way Blondine lived for six months ; her grief was always the same, and it is just to say, that it was not her sad and solitary life which made her unhappy, but sincere regret for her fault. She would willingly have consented to pass her life in the forest, if she could thus have brought to life Bonne- Biche and Beau-Minon. BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAV-MINOK 61 CHAPTER NINTH. THE TORTOISE. |NE day Blondine was seated at the entrance of her hut, musing sadly, as usual, upon her lost friends, and of her father, when she saw before her an enormous Tortoise. "Blondine," said the Tortoise, "if you will place yourself under my protection, I will conduct you out of this forest." " And why, Madam Tortoise, should I seek to leave this forest ? Here I caused the death of my friends, and here I wish to die." " Are you very certain of their death, Blondine?" " How ! Is it possible I may be deceived ? But, no ! I saw the ruins of their castle. The Parrot and the Toad assured me of their death. You are kind and good, and wish to console me, without doubt ; but, alas ! I do not hope to see them again. If they Btill lived, they would not have left me alone, with th^ frightful despair of having caused their death." " But how do you know, Blondine, that this seem- ing neglect is not forced upon them ? They may now be subjected to a power greater than their own. You 6 62 HISTORY OF BLOKDINE, know, Blondine, that a true repentance will obtain pardon for many crimes." " Ah ! Madam Tortoise, if they still live, if you can give me news of them, if you can assure me that I need no longer reproach myself with their death, assure me that I shall one day see them again, there is no expiation which I will not gladly accept to merit this great happiness.'* " Blondine, I am not permitted to disclose to you the fate of your friends, but if you have the courage to mount on my back, remain there for six months, and not address a single question to me during the journey, I will conduct you to a place where all will be revealed." " I promise all that you ask. Madam Tortoise, pro- vided I can only learn what has become of my friends.* "Take care, Blondine! reflect well. Six months without descending from my back ; without asking me ft single question ! When once you have accepted the conditions, when we have commenced our journey, if you have not the courage to endure to the end, you will remain eternally in the power of the enchanter, Perroquet, and his sister Kose, and I cannot even con- tinue to bestow upon you the little assistance to which you owe your life during the last six months.** " Let us go, Madam Tortoise : let us be off, imme- BONNE'BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON. 63 diately. I prefer to die of hunger and fatigue rather than of grief and disquietude. Your words have given birth to hope in my poor heart, and I have courage to undertake even a more difficult journey than that of which you speak." "Let it be according to your wish, Blondine. Mount my back : fear neither hunger, nor thirst, nor nor cold, nor sunshine, nor any accident during our long journey. As long as it lasts, you shall not suffer from any inconvenience." Blondine mounted on the back of the Tortoise. "Now, silence !" said she ; " and not one word till w« have arrived, and I speak to you first." mm •yr^ 64 HISTORY OF BLOND IKE, CHAPTER TENTH. THE JOURNEY AND ARRIVAL HE journey of Blondine lasted, as the Tortoise had said, six months. They were three months passing through the forest. At the end of that time she found herself on an arid plain, whicn it required six weeks to cross. At this time Blondine perceived a castle which reminded her of that of Bonne-Biche and Beau Minon. They were a full month passing through the avenue to this castle. Blondine burned with impatience. Would she in- deed learn the fate of her dear friends at this castle ? Notwithstanding her extreme anxiety, she dared not ask a single question. If she could have descended from the back of the Tortoise, ten minutes would have sufficed for her to reach the castle. But, alas ! the Tortoise crept on slowly, and Blondine remembered that she had been forbidden to alight or to utter a word. She resolved, therefore, to control her impa- tience. The Tortoise seemed rather to relax than to increase her speed. She consumed fourteen days still BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAV-MINON. 65 in passing through this avenue. They seemed four- teen centuries to Blondine. She never, however, lost sight of the castle, or of the door. The place seemed deserted ; she heard no noise, she saw no sign of life. At last, after twenty-four days' journey, the Tor- toise paused, and said to Blondine : — "Now, princess, descend. By your courage and obedience you have earned the recompense I promised. Enter the little door which you see before you. The first person you will meet will be the fairy Bienveil- lante, and she will kindly make known to you the fate of your friends." Blondine sprang lightly to the earth. She had been immovable so long, she feared her limbs would be cramped ; on the contrary, she was as light and active as when she had lived so happily with her dear Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon, and ran joyously and gracefully, gathering flowers and chasing butterflies. After having thanked the Tortoise most warmly, she precipitately opened the door which had been pointed out to her, and found herself before a young person clothed in white, who asked, in a sweet vcdce, whom she desired to see ? " I wish to see the fairy Bienveillante. Tell her, I pray you, miss, that the princess Blondine begs earnestly to see her without delay." 66 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, " Follow me, princess," replied the young girl. Blondine followed, in great agitation. She passed through several beautiful rooms, and met manj young girls clothed in white, like her guide. They looked at her as if they recognised her, and smiled graciously. At last Blondine arrived in a room in every re- spect resembling that of Bonne-Biche in the Forest of Lilacs. The remembrances which this recalled were BO painful that she did not perceive the disappearance of her fair young guide. Blondine gazed sadly at the furniture of the room. She saw but one piece which had not adorned the apart- ment of Bonne-Biche in the Forest of Lilacs. This was a wardrobe in gold and ivory, exquisitely carved. It was closed. Blondine felt herself drawn towards it in an inexplicable manner. She was gazing at it intently, not having indeed the power to turn her eyes away, when a door opened, and a young and beautiful woman, magnificently dressed, entered and drew near Blondine. "What do you wish, my child?" said she, in a Bweet, caressing voice. " Oh, madam !" said Blondine, throwing herself at her feet, " I have been assured that you could give me news of my dear, kind friends, Bonne-Biche and BONNE-BWHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 67 Beau-Minon. You know, madam, without doubt, by what culpable disobedience I gave them up to destruc- tion, and that I wept for them a long time, believing them to be dead ; but the Tortoise, who conducted me here, has given me reason to hope I may one day see them again. Tell me, madam, tell me if they yet live, and if I may dare hope for the happiness of rejoining them?" "Blondine," replied the fairy Bienveillante, sadly, " you are now about to know the fate of your friends ; but no matter what you see or hear, do not lose courage or hope." Saying these words, she seized the trembling Blon- dine, and conducted her in front of the wardrobe which had already so forcibly attracted her attention. "Blondine, here is the key to this wardrobe; open it, and be brave !" She handed Blondine a gold key. With a trem- bling hand the princess opened the wardrobe. What was her anguish when she saw the skins of Bonne- Biche and Beau-Minon fastened to the wardrobe with diamond nails ! At this terrible sight the unfortunate princess uttered a cry of horror, and fell insensible at the feet of the fairy. At this moment the door opened, and a prince, beautiful as the day, sprang towards Blondine, saying : — 68 BISTORT OF BLONDINE, " Oil, my mother ! this is too severe a trial for my dear Blondine !'* " Alas ! my son, my heart also bleeds for her. But you know that this last punishment was indispensable to deliver her for ever from the yoke of the cruel genius of the Forest of Lilacs." The fairy Bienveillante now with her wand touched Blondine, who was immediately restored to conscious- ness; but despairing and sobbing convulsively, she exclaimed : — *' Let me die at once ! My life is odious to me ! No hope, no happiness, from this time forth for ever for poor Blondine ! My friends ! my cherished friends ! I will join you soon in the land of shadows !" "Blondine! ever dear Blondine!'* said the fairy, clasping her in her arms, " your friends live and love you tenderly. I am Bonne-Biche, and this is my son, Beau-Minon. The wicked genius of the Forest of Lilacs, taking advantage of the negligence of my son, obtained dominion over us, and forced us into those forms under which you have known us. We could not resume our natural appearance unless you should pluck the Rose, which I, knowing it to be your evil genius, retained captive. I placed it as far as possible from the castle, in order to withdraw it from your view. 1 knew the misfortunes to which you BONNE-BICGE, AND BEAU-MINOK 69 would be exposed on delivering your evil genius from nis prison ; and Heaven is mj witness, that my son and myself would willingly have remained a Hind and a Cat for ever in your eyes in order to spare you the cruel tortures to which you have been subjected. The Parrot gained you over, in spite of all our pre- cautions. You know the rest, my dear child. But you can never know all that we have suffered in witnessing your tears and your desolation." Blondine embraced the Fairy ardently, and thanked her repeatedly, and the handsome Prince also. She addressed a thousand questions to them. " What has become of the gazelles who waited upor us so gracefully ?" " You have already seen them, dear Blondine. They are the young girls who accompanied you. They also were subjected to this sad metamorphosis." " And the good white cow who brought me milk every day?" " We obtained permission from the Queen of the Fairies to send you this light refreshment. The encouraging words of the Crow came also from us." " You, then, madam, also sent me the Tortoise V' "Yes, Blondine. The Queen of the Fairies, touched by your repentance and your grief, deprived the Evil Genius of the Forest of all power over us, 70 HISTORY OF BLONDINE, on condition of obtaining from you one last proof of submission, compelling you to take this long and fatiguing journey, and inflicting the terrible punish- ment of making you believe that my son and myself had died from your imprudence. I implored, en- treated the Queen of the Fairies to spare you at least this last anguish; but she was inflexible." Blondine gazed at her lost friends, listened eagerly to every word, and did not cease to embrace those she had feared were eternally separated from her by death. The remembrance of her dear father now presented itself. The prince Parfait understood her secret desire, and made it known to his mother, the fairy Bienveillante. "Prepare yourself, dear Blondine, to see your father; informed by me, he now expects you." At this moment, Blondine found herself in a chariot of gold and pearls, the fairy Bienveillante seated at her right hand, and the prince Parfait at her feet, regarding her kindly and tenderly. The chariot was drawn by four swans of dazzling whiteness. They flew with such rapidity, that five minutes brought them to the palace of King Benin. All the court was assembled about the king ; they expected the princess Blondine. When the chariot appeared, the cries of joy and BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINOK 71 welcome were so tumultuous, that the swans were con- fused, and almost lost their way. Prince Parfait, who guided them, succeeded in arresting their atten- tion, and the chariot drew up at the foot of the grand stairway. King Benin sprang towards Blondine, who, jumping lightly from the chariot, threw herself in her father's arms. They remained a long time in this position, and everybody wept tears of joy. When King Benin had somewhat recovered himself, he kissed, respectfully and tenderly, the hand of the good fairy, who, after having protected and educated the princess Blondine, had now restored her to him. He embraced the prince Parfait, whom he found most charming. There were eight resplendent gala days in honor of the return of Blondine. At the close of this gay festival, the fairy Bienveillante announced her inten- tion to return home. But Prince Parfait and Blon- dine were so melancholy at the prospect of this sepa- ration, that King Benin resolved they should never quit the palace. He wedded the fairy, and Blondine became the happy wife of Prince Parfait, who was always for her the Beau-Minon of the Forest of Lilacs. Brunette, who had entirely reformed her character, came often to see Blondine. Prince Violent, her hus- 72 HISTORY OF BLOND INE. band, became more amiable as Brunette became more gentle, and tbey were very happy. As to Blondine, she had no misfortunes, no griefs. She gave birth to lovely daughters, who resembled her, and to good and handsome sons, the image of their manly father, Prince Parfait. Everybody loved them, and every one connected with them was happy. aoa |tttl^ l^nrji. O0d l^ittl^ l«nrg CHAPTER FIRST, THB POOR SICK MOTHER. .HERE was a poor woman, a widow, who lived alone with her little son Henry. She loved him tenderly, and she had good reason to do so, for no one had ever seen a more charm- ing child. Although he was hut seven years old, he kept the house, while his good mother labored diligently, and then left home to sell her work and buy food for herself and her little Henry. He swept, he washed the floor, he cooked, he dug and culti- vated the garden, and when all this was done he seated himself to mend his clothes or his mother's shoes, and to make stools and tables — in short, to do everything his strength would enable him to do. (76) 76 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. The house in which they lived belonged to them, and was very lonesome. In front of their dwelling there was a lofty mountain, so high that no one had ever ascended to its summit; besides, it was sur- rounded by a rushing torrent, by high walls, and insurmountable precipices. The mother and her little boy were happy ; but alas ! one day the poor mother fell sick ; they knew no doctor, and besides they had no money to pay for one. Poor Henry did not know how to cure her. He brought her fresh cool water, for he had nothing else to give her ; he stayed by her night and day, and eat his little morsel of dry bread at the foot of her bed. When she slept he looked at her pen- sively and wept. The sickness increased from day to day, and at last the poor woman was almost in a dying condition. She could neither speak nor swallow ; she no longer knew her little Henry, who was sobbing on his knees near her bed. In his despair, he cried out : — " Fairy Bienfaisante, come to my help ! save my mother !" Henry had scarcely pronounced these words, when a window opened and a lady richly dressed entered and said to him, in a soft voice : — " What do you wish of me, my little friend ? You called me — here I am !" GOOD LITTLE HENRY, 77 "Madam," cried Henry, throwing himself on hia knees and clasping his hands, *'if you are the fairy Bienfaisante, save my poor mother, who is ahout to die and leave me alone in the world." The good fairy looked at Henry most compassion- ately ; then, without saying a word, she approached the poor woman, hent over her, examined her atten- tively, breathed upon her, and said : — " It is not in my power, my poor child, to cure your mother ; her life depends upon you alone, if you have the courage to undertake the journey I will point out to you." " Speak, madam ! I entreat you to speak ! there is nothing I will not undertake to save the life of my dear mother." The fairy replied, "You must go and seek the plant of life, which grows on the top of the mountain that you see from this window. When you have obtained this plant, press its juice into the mouth of your mother, and ihe will be immediately restored." " I will start out immediately, madam. But who will take care of my poor mother during my absence ? A.nd, moreover," said he, sobbing bitterly, "she will be dead before my return." " Be composed, my dear child. K you go to seek 78 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. the plant of life, jour mother will need nothing before your return ; she will remain precisely in the condition in which you leave her. But you must dare many dangers and endure many fatigues before yc u pluck the plant of life. Great courage and great perseverance are necessary on your part." " I fear nothing, madam ; my courage and perse- verance shall not fail. Tell me only how I shall know this plant amongst all the others which cover the top of the mountain." " When you reach the summit, call the doctor who has charge of this plant; inform him that I have sent you, and he will give you a branch of the plant of life." Henry kissed the good fairy's hands and thanked her heartily ; took a sorrowful leave of his mother, covering her with kisses, put some bread in his pocket, and set out, after saluting the fairy respectfully. The fairy smiled encouragingly at this poor child, who so bravely resolved to ascend a mountain so dan- gerous, that all those who had attempted it had expired before reaching the summit. GOOD LITTLE HENRY, T9 CHAPTER SECOND. THE CROW, THE COCK, AND THE PROQ. |ITTLE HENRY marched resolutely to the mountain, which he found much more distant than it had appeared to him. Instead of arriving in a half hour, as he had expected, he walked rapidly the whole day without reaching its base. About one-third of the way he saw a Crow, which was caught by the claw in a snare which some wicked boy had set for him. The poor Crow sought in vain to release himself from this trap, which caused him cruel sufferings. Henry ran to him, cut the cord which bound him, and set him at liberty. The poor Crow flew off rapily, after having said to Henry, — " Thanks, my brave Henry ; I will see you again." Henry was much surprised to hear the Crow speak, but he did not relax his speed. Some time afterwards, while he was resting in a grove, and eating a morsel of bread, he saw a Cock followed by a fox, and about to be taken by him, in ipite of his efforts to escape. The poor frightened 80 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. Cock passed very near to Henry, who seized it adroitly, and hid it under his coat without the fox having seen him. The fox continued his pursuit, supposing that the Cock was before him. Henry did not move till he was entirely out of sight. He then released the Cock, who said to him, in a low voice : — "Many thanks, my brave Henry; I will see you again." Henry was now rested. He rose and continued his journey. When he had advanced a considerable distance, he saw a poor Frog about to be devoured by a serpent. The Frog trembled, and could not move, paralyzed by fear. The serpent advanced rapidly, its horrid mouth open. Henry seized a large stone, and threw it so adroitly that it entered the serpent's throat the moment it was about to devour the Frog. The frightened Frog leaped to a distance, and cried out, — " Many thanks, brave Henry ; we will meet again." Henry, who had before heard the Crow and the Cock speak, was not now astonished at these words of the Frog, and continued to walk on rapidly. A short time after he arrived at the foot of the mountain, but he was greatly distressed to see that a large and deep river ran at its foot, so wide that the other side could scarcely be seen. Greatly at a loss, he paused to reflect. GOOD LITTLE HENRY, 81 "Perhaps," said he, hopefully, "I may find a bridge, or ford, or a boat." Henry followed the course of the river, which flowed entirely around the mountain, but everywhere it was equally wide and deep, and he saw neither bridge nor boat. Poor Henry seated himself on the bank of the river, weeping bitterly. " Fairy Bienfaisante ! Fairy Bienfaisante ! come to my help," he exclaimed. " Of what use will it be to me to know that there is a plant at the top of the mountain which will save the life of my poor mother, if I can never reach its summit ?" At this moment the Cock whom he had protected from the fox appeared on the borders of the river, and said to him : — " The fairy Bienfaisante can do nothing for you. This mountain is beyond her control. But you have saved my life, and I wish to prove my gratitude. Mount my back, Henry, and by the faith of a Cock, I will take you safe to the other side." Henry did not hesitate. He sprang on the Cock's back, fully expecting to fall into the water ; but his clothes were not even moist. The Cock received him so adroitly on his back, that he felt as secure as if he had been on horseback. He held on firmly to the crest of the Cock, who now commenced the passage. 82 GOOD LITTLE HENRY, The river was so wide that he was flying constantly twenty-one days before he reached the other shore ; but duiing these twenty-one days Henry was not sleepy, and felt neither hunger nor thirst. When they arrived, Henry thanked the Cock most politely, who graciously bristled his feathers and dis- appeared. A moment after this Henry turned, and to his astonishment the river was no longer to be seen. " It was without doubt the genius of the mountain, who wished to prevent my approach," said Henry. " But, with the help of the good fairy Bienfaisante, I think I shall yet attain my aim." GOOD LITTLE HENRY, 88 CHAPTER THIRD. THE HARVEST. ENRY walked a long, long time ; but he walked in vain ; he saw that he was no farther from the foot of the mountain, and no nearer to the summit, than he had been when he crossed the river. Any other child would have re- traced his steps; but the brave little Henry would not allow himself to be discouraged. Notwithstand- ing his extreme fatigue, he walked on twenty-one days without seeming to make any advance. At the end of this time he was no more discouraged than at the close of the first day. " If I am obliged to walk a hundred years," he said to himself, " I will go on till I reach the sum- mit." "You have then a great desire to arrive there, little boy?" said an old man, looking at him mali- ciously, and standing just in his path. " What are you seeking at the top of this mountain?" " The plant of life, my good sir, to save the life of my dear mother, who is about to die." 84 GOOD LITTLE HENR T. The little old man shook his head, rested his little pointed chin on the top of his gold-headed cane, and after having a long time regarded Henry, he said : — " Your sweet and fresh face pleases me, my hoy. I am one of the genii of this mountain. I will allow you to advance on condition that you will gather all my wheat, that you will heat it out, make it into flour, and then into hread. When you have gathered, beaten, ground, and cooked it, then call me. Tou will find all the necessary implements in the ditch near you. The fields of wheat are before you, and cover the mountain." The old man disappeared, and Henry gazed in ter- ror at the immense fields of wheat which were spread out before him. But he soon mastered this feeling of discouragement — took ofi" his vest, seized a scythe, and commenced cutting the wheat diligently. This occupied him a hundred and ninety-five days and nights. When the wheat was all cut, Henry commenced to beat it with a flail, which he found at hand. This occupied him sixty days. When the grain was all beaten out, he began to grind it in a mill which rose up suddenly near him. This occupied him seventy days. When the wheat was all ground, he began to knead GOOD LITTLE HENRY. 85 it and to cook it. He kneaded and cooked for a hundred and twenty days. As the bread was cooked he arranged it properly on shelves, like books in a library. When all was finished, Henry was transported with joy, and called the genius of the mountain, who appeared immediately, and counted four hundred and sixty- eight thousand three hundred and twenty-nine new loaves of bread. He bit and ate a little end off of two or three, drew near to Henry, tapped him on the cheek, and said : — " You are a good boy, and I wish to pay you for your work." He drew from his pocket a little wooden box, which he gave to Henry, and said, maliciously : — " When you return home, open this box, and you will find in it the most delicious tobacco you have ever seen." Henry had never used tobacco, and the present of the little genius seemed to him very useless ; but he was too polite to let this be seen, and he thanked the old man as if satisfied. The old man smiled, then burst out laughing, and disappeared. B6 GOOD LITTLE EENBT, CHAPTER FOURTH. THE VINTAGE. ENRY now began to walk rapidly, and per- ceived with great delight that every step brought him nearer to the summit of the mountain. In three hours he had walked two thirds of the way. He now found himself suddenly arrested by a very high wall, which he had not perceived before ; he walked around it, and found, after three days' diligent advance, that this wall surrounded the mountain, and that there was no door, and not the smallest opening by which he could enter. Henry seated himself on the ground, to reflect upon his situation. He resolved to wait patiently — he sat there forty-five days. At the end of this time he said : — " I will not go back if I have to wait here a hun- dred years." He had scarcely uttered these words, when a part of the wall crumbled away with a terrible noise, and he saw in the opening a giant, brandishing an enor mous cudgel. GO OB LITTLE HENRY, 87 "You have then a great desire to pass here, my boy ? What are you seeking beyond my wall ?" " I am seeking the plant of life, Master Giant, to cure my poor mother, who is dying. If it is in your power, and you will allow me to pass this wall, I will do anything for you that you may command." "Is it so ? Well, listen ! Your countenance pleases me. I am one of the genii of this mountain. I will allow you to pass this wall, if you will fill my mne-cellar. Here are all my vines; gather the grapes, crush them, put the juice in the casks, and arrange them well in my wine-cellar. You will find all the implements necessary at the foot of this wall. When it is done, call me." The Giant disappeared, closing the wall behind him. Henry looked around him, and as far as he could see, the vines of the Giant were growing luxuriously. " Well, well," said Henry to himself, " I cut all the wheat of the little old man — I can surely also gather the grapes of the big Giant. It will not take me so long, and it will not be as difficult to make wine of these grapes as to make bread of the wheat." Henry took off his coat, picked up a pruning-knife which he saw at his feet, and began to cut the grapes and throw them into the vats. It took him thirty days to gather this crop. When all was finished, he 88 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. crushed the grapes and poured the juice into the casks, and ranged them in the cellar, which they com- pletely filled. He was ninety days making the wine. When the wine was ready, and everything in the cellar in complete order, Henry called the Giant, who immediately appeared, examined the casks, tasted the wine, then turned towards Henry, and said : — " You are a brave little man, and I wish to pay you for your trouble. It shall not be said that you worked gratis for the Giant of the mountain.'* He drew a thistle from his pocket, gave it to Henry, and said : — "After your return home, whenever you desire anything, smell this thistle." Henry did not think the Giant very generous, but he received the thistle with an amiable smile. At this moment, the Giant whistled so loudly that the mountain trembled, and the wall and Giant disap- peared entirely, and Henry was enabled to continue his journey. GOOD LITTLE EENRT, 89 CHAPTER FIFTH. THE CHASE. ENRY was within a half-hour's walk of the summit of the mountain, when he reached a pit so wide that he could not possibly jump to the other side, and so deep that it seemed unfathomable. Henry did not lose courage, however. He followed the borders of the pit till he found himself where he started from, and knew that this yawning pit surrounded the mountain. "Alas! what shall I do?" said poor Henry; "1 scarcely overcome one obstacle, when another more difficult seems to rise up before me. How shall I ever pass this pit?" The poor child felt for the first time that his eyes were filled with tears. He looked around for some means of passing over, but saw no possible chance, and seated himself sadly on the brink of the precipice. Suddenly he heard a terrible growl. He turned, and saw within tea steps of him an enormous Wolf gating at him with flaming eyes. " What are you seeking in my kingdom ?" said the Wolf, in a threatening voice. 90 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. " Master Wolf, I am seeking the plant of life, which alone can save my dear mother, who is about to die. If you will assist me to cross this pit, I will be your devoted servant, and will obey any command you may give me." " Well, my boy, if you will catch all the game which is in my forests, birds and beasts, and make them up into pies and nice roasts, by the faith of the genius of the mountain, I will pass you over to the other side. You will find near this tree all the instru- ments necessary to catch the game and to cook it. When your work is done, call me." Saying these words, he disappeared. Henry took courage. He lifted a bow and arrow which he saw on the ground, and began to shoot at the partridges, woodcocks, pheasants, &c. But, alas ! he did not understand it, and killed nothing. During eight days he was shooting right and left in vain, and was at last wearied and despairing, when he saw near him the Crow whose life he had saved in the commencement of his journey "You rescued me from mortal danger," said the Crow, " and I told you I should see you again. I have come to redeem my promise. If you do not fulfil the command of the Wolf, he will craunch you finder the form of some terrible wild beast. Follow GOOD LITTLE HENRY. 91 me. I am going a hunting : you have only to gather the game and cook it." Saying these words, the Crow flew above the trees of the forest, and with his beak and his claws killed all the game to be found. In fact, during one hun- dred and fifty days he caught one million eight hun- dred and sixty thousand seven hundred and twenty- six animals and birds : squirrels, moorcocks, pheasants,, and quails. As the Crow killed them, Henry plucked off the feathers, skinned them, cut them up, and cooked them in roasts or pies. When all was cooked he arranged them neatly, and then the Crow said to him: — " Adieu, Henry. There remains one obstacle yet to overcome ; but in that difficulty I cannot aid you. But do not be discouraged. The good fairies protect filial love." Before Henry had time to thank the Crow, he had disappeared. He then called the Wolf, and said to him: — " Master Wolf, here is all the game of your forest. I have prepared it as you ordered ; and now will you not assist me to pass this precipice?" The Wolf examined a pheasant, craunched a roast Bquirrel and a pie, licked his lips, and said to Henry : " You are a brave and good boy. I will pay you 92 GOOD LITTLE HENRY, for your trouble. It shall not be said that you have worked for the Wolf of the mountain without receiv- ing your reward." Saying these words, he gave Henry a staff which he cut in the forest, and said to him : — " When you have gathered the plant of life, and wish yourself transported to any part of the world, mount the stick, and it will be your horse." Henry was on the point of throwing this useless stick into the woods ; but he wished to be polite, and receiving it smilingly, he thanked the Wolf cordially. " Get on my back, Henry," said the Wolf. Henry sprang upon the Wolf's back, and he made a bound so prodigious that they landed immediately on the other side of the precipice. Henry dismounted, thanked the Wolf, and walked on vigorously. GOOD LITTLE HENRY, 93 CHAPTER SIXTH. THE FISHING. T last, after so many labors and perils, Henry saw the lattice of the garden in which the plant of life was growing, and his heart bounded for joy. He looked always upward as he walked, and went on as rapidly as his strength would permit, when suddenly he fell into a hole. He sprang backwards, looked anxiously around him, and saw a ditch full of water, large and long, so long, indeed, that he could not see either end. " Without doubt this is that last obstacle of which the Crow spoke to me," said Henry to himself. " Since I have overcome all my other difficulties with the help of the good fairy Bienfaisante, she will assist me to surmount this also. It was surely she who sent me the Cock, the Crow, and the Old Man, the Giant, and the Wolf. I will wait patiently till it shall please her to assist me this time." On saying these words, Henry began to walk along the ditch, hoping to find the end. He walked on steadily two days, and found himself at the end of that time just where he had started. Henry would 94 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. not give way to distress ; he would not be discouraged; he seated himself on the borders of the ditch, and said : — " I will not move from this spot till the genius of the mountain allows me to pass this ditch." Henry had just uttered these words, when an enor- mous Cat appeared before him, and began to mew so horribly that he was almost deafened by the sound. The Cat said to him : — "What are you doing here? Do you not know that I could tear you to pieces with one stroke of my claws ?'* " I do not doubt your power, Mr. Cat, but you will not do so when you know that I am seeking the plant of life, to save my poor mother, who is dying. If you will permit me to pass your ditch, I will do any- thing in my power to please you." "Will you?" said the Cat. "Well, then, listen; your countenance pleases me. If, therefore, you will catch all the fish in this ditch, and salt and cook them, I will pass you over to the other side, on the faith of a Cat !" Henry advanced some steps, and saw lines, fish- hooks, bait, and nets on the ground. He took a net, and hoped that by one vigorous haul he would take many fish, and that he would succeed much better GOOD LITTLE HENRY. 95 than with a line and hook. He threw the net, and drew it in with great caution. But alas ! he had caught nothing ! Disappointed, Henry thought he had not been adroit. He threw the net again, and drew it very softly : still nothing ! Henry was patient. For ten days he tried faith- fully, without having caught a single fish. Then he gave up the net, and tried the hook and line. He waited an hour ; two hours ; — not a single fish bit at the bait ! He moved from place to place, till he had gone entirely around the ditch. He tried diligently fifteen days, and caught not a single fish. He knew not now what to do. He thought of the good fairy Bienfaisante, who had abandoned him at the end of his undertaking. He seated himself sadly, and gazed intently at the ditch, when suddenly the water began to boil, and he saw the head of a Frog appear. "Henry," said the Frog, "you saved my life — 1 wish now to save yours in return. If you do not execute the orders of the Cat of the mountain, ho will eat you for his breakfast. You cannot catch the fish, because the water is so deep, and they take refuge at the bottom. But allow me to act for you. Light your fire for cooking, and prepare your vessels for salting. I will bring you the fish." 96 GOOD LITTLE HENRY, Saying these words, the Frog plunged back into the water. Henry saw that the waves were agitated and boiling up, as if a grand contest was going on at the bottom of the ditch. In a moment, however, the Frog reappeared, sprang ashore, and deposited a superb salmon which he had caught. Henry had scarcely time to seize the salmon, when the Frog leaped ashore with a carp. During sixty days the Frog continued her labors. Henry cooked the large fish, and threw the little ones into the casks to be salted. Finally, at the end of two months, the Frog leaped towards Henry, and said : — " There is not now a single fish in the ditch. You can call the Cat of the mountain." Henry thanked the Frog heartily, who extended his wet paw towards him, in sign of friendship. Henry pressed it afi'ectionately and gratefully, and the Frog disappeared. It took Henry fifteen days to arrange properly all the large fish he had cooked, and all the casks of small fish he had salted. He then called the Cat, who appeared immediately. "Mr. Cat," said Henry, "here are all your fish cooked and salted. Will you now keep your promise, and pass me over to the other side?" The Cat examined the fish and the casks ; tasted a GOOD LITTLE HENR F. 97 ealted and a cooked fish, licked his lips, smiled, and said to Henry : — " You are a brave boy \ I will recompense your fortitude and patience. It shall never be said that the Cat of the mountain does not pay his servants." Saying these words, the Cat tore ofi* one of his own claws, and said, handing it to Henry : — " When you are sick, or feel yourself growing old, touch your forehead with this claw. Sickness, suffer- ing, and old age will disappear. This miraculous claw will have the same virtue for all that you love, and all who love you." Henry thanked the Cat most warmly, took the precious claw, and wished to try its powers immedi- ately, as he felt fatigued and suffering. The claw had scarcely touched his brow, when he felt as fresh and vigorous as if he had just left his bed. The Cat looked on smiling, and said : " Now get on my tail." Henry obeyed. He was no sooner seated on the Cat's tail than he saw the tail lengthen itself till it reached across the ditch. 98 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. CHAPTER SEVENTH. THE PLANT OP LIFE. 'HEN he had saluted the Cat respectfully, Henry ran towards the garden of the plant of life, which was only a hundred steps from him. He trembled lest some new obstacle should retard him ; but he reached the garden lattice without any difficulty. He sought the gate, and found it readily, as the garden was not large. But, alas ! the garden was filled with innu- merable plants utterly unknown to him, and it was impossible for him to know how to distinguish the plant of life. Happily he remembered that the good fairy Bienfaisante had told him that when he reached the summit of the mountain he must call the Doctor who cultivated the garden of the fairies. He called him then with a loud voice. In a moment he heard a noise amongst the plants near him, and saw issue from them a little man, no taller than a chimney brush. He had a book under his arm, spectacles on his crooked little nose, and wore the great black cloak of a doctor. " What are you seeking, little one V said the Doc- GOOD LITTLE HENRY. 99 tor ; " and how is it possible that you have gained this summit?" "Doctor, I come from the fairy Bienfaisante, to ask the plant of life, to cure my poor sick mother, who is about to die." " All those who come from the fairy Bienfaisante," said the little Doctor, raising his hat respectfully, " are most welcome. Come, my boy, I will give you the plant you seek." The Doctor then buried himself in the botanical garden, where Henry had some trouble in following him, as he was so small as to disappear entirely amongst the plants. At last they arrived near a bush growing by itself. The Doctor drew a little pruning-knife from his pocket, cut a bunch, and gave it to Henry, saying : — " Take this and use it as the good fairy Bienfaisante directed, but do not allow it to leave your hands. If you lay it down under any circumstances, it will escape from you, and you will never recover it." Henry was about to thank him, but the little man had disappeared in the midst of his medicinal herbs, and he found himself alone. " What shall I do now in order to arrive quickly at home? If I encounter on my return the same obstacles wnich met me as I came up the mountain, I 100 GOOD LITTLE HENRY. Btall perhaps lose my plant, my dear plant, which should restore my dear mother to life." Happily Henry now remembered the stick which the Wolf had given him. "Well, let us see," said he, "if this stick has really the power to carry me home." Saying this, he mounted the stick, and wished him- self at home. In the same moment he felt himself raised in the air, which he traversed with the rapidity of lightning, and found himself almost instantly by his mother's bed. Henry sprang to his mother, and embraced her ten- derly. But she neither saw nor heard him. He lost no time, but pressed the plant of life upon her lips. At the same moment she opened her eyes, threw her arms around Henry's neck, and exclaimed : — " My child ! my dear Henry ! I have been very sick ; but now I feel almost well. I am hungry." Then, looking at him in amazement, she said : " How you have grown, my darling ! How is this ? how can you have changed so in a few days?" Henry had indeed grown a head taller. Two years, &3ven months and six days had passed away since he left his home. He was now nearly ten years old. Before he had time to answer, the window opened, and the good fairy Bienfaisante appeared. She em- braced Henry, and, approaching the couch of hia GOOD LITTLE HENRY. 101 mother, related to her all that little Henry had done and suffered ; the dangers he had dared ; the fatigues he endured ; the courage, the patience, the goodness he had manifested. Henry blushed on hearing him- self thus praised by the fairy. His mother pressed him to her heart, and could not cease from covering him with kisses. After the first moments of happi- ness and emotion had passed away, the fairy said : — " Now, Henry, you can make use of the presents of the little Old Man and the Giant of the mountain." Henry drew out his little box and opened it. Immediately there issued from it a crowd of little workmen, not larger than bees, who filled the room. They began to work with such promptitude, that in a quarter of an hour they had built and furnished a beautiful house, in the midst of a lovely garden, with a thick wood on one side, and a beautiful meadow on the other. "All this is yours, my brave Henry," said the fairy. " The Giant's thistle will obtain for you all that is necessary. The Wolf's staff will transport you where you wish. The Cat's claw will preserve your health and your youth, and also that of your dear mother. Adieu, Henry! Be happy, and never forget thut virtue and filial love are always recompensed." 9* 102 GOOD LITTLE HE KB Y. Henry threw himself on his knees before the fairy, who gave him her hand to kiss, smiled upon him, and disappeared. Henry's mother had a great desire to arise from her bed, and admire her new house, her garden, her woods, and her meadow. But, alas ! she had no dress. During her first illness she had made Henry sell all that she possessed, as they were suffering for bread. " Alas ! alas ! my child, I cannot leave my bed. I have neither dresses nor shoes." "You shall have all those things, dear mother," exclaimed Henry. Drawing his thistle from his pocket, he smelled it, while he wished for dresses, linen, shoes for his mother and himself, and also for linen for the house. At the same moment the presses were filled with linen, his mother was dressed in a good and beautiful robe of merino, and Henry completely clothed in blue cloth, with good, substantial shoes. They both uttered a cry of joy. His mother sprang from her bed to run through the house with Henry. Nothing was wanting. Everywhere the furniture was good and comfortable. The kitchen was filled with pots and kettles ; but there was nothing in them. Henry again put his thistle to his nose, and desired to have a good dinner served up. GOOD LITTLE HENRY, 103 A table soon appeared, with good smoking soup, a splendid leg of lamb, a roasted pullet, and good salad. They took seats at the table with the appetite of those who had not eaten for three years. The soup was Boon swallowed, the leg of lamb entirely eaten, then the pullet, then the salad. When their hunger was thus appeased, the mother, aided by Henry, took off the cloth, washed and ar- ranged all the dishes, and then put the kitcken in perfect order. They then made up their beds with the sheets they found in the presses, and went happily to bed, thanking God and the good fairy Bienfaisante. The mother also gave grateful thanks for her dear son Henry, They lived thus most happily, they wanted nothing — the thistle provided everything. They did not grow old or sick — the claw cured every ill. They never used the staff, as they were too happy at home ever to desire to leave it. Henry asked of his thistle only two cows, two good horses, and the necessaries of life for every day. He wished for nothing superfluous, either in clothing or food ; thus he preserved his thistle as long as he lived. It is not known when they died. It is supposed that the Queen of the Fairies made them immortal, and transported them to her palace, where they still are. -♦flal^ Itstors of |rinct8^ |o8dU. -