a Princess. Thou shall have a lovely court, many
servants, costly robes to wear, and millions of people to worship thee,
and do thee homage.'

"She smiled and motioned him to a seat on her left.

"Other suitors made offers to her. The last suitor that appeared before
the sweet lady was different from all the rest. He was dressed plainly;
he needed nothing to improve his natural appearance, for his majestic
form, his noble countenance and lustrous eyes, surpassed in
attractiveness all the other suitors. When you once saw him you felt as
if you wished to take another look at him, for it seemed to do one's
eyes good to feast them on so grand a man.

"He said, 'Thou pure, sweet one. When a youth I was wandering through a
forest and saw a man sitting under a tree. He had a sweeter countenance
than I had ever seen before. He said, "My youthful friend, if thou wilt
learn from me thou shalt become good, wise and very happy."

"'I thought of my companions and myself in regard to what he said, and
the more I thought about us all, I could not think of one that was
becoming good and wise, or was truly happy. For we were all restless,
going here, and going there, trying this and doing the other to find
happiness. So I thanked him and said, I will be thy pupil, for I wish to
become good, wise and truly happy. He said, "Commence to-morrow morning,
and as soon as you awake rise immediately; never lay after you are
awake, for it is not good for one of your age. Then when you rise bathe
in cold water. After you have dressed," he said, "read out of this book
which I give you; read every morning for fifteen minutes or half an
hour; then spend a little time in prayer and meditation." And he gave me
instructions in such and said, "Live on plain food, eat no meat, avoid
bad companions as you would a Bengal tiger, and before going to rest at
night spend half an hour in prayer and meditation. Continue faithfully
in the performance of these practices for three months, and then come
here to me." I did so, carrying them out to the letter, and at the end
of three months I returned to him. He looked at me and said, "I see by
your countenance you have changed." I replied, "Yes, I feel changed
altogether." "Tell me," he said, "in what way do you feel different?"

"'I said, "When you saw me three months ago my mind was confused more or
less, my imagination ran too much after vain and sensuous objects. I
had too much personal sensitiveness, being a