ed dish, with
an embroidered table-napkin, and a knife and fork of pure gold studded
with diamonds and rubies. But alas! as they placed themselves at table
there entered an old fairy who had never been invited, because more
than fifty years since she had left the king's dominion on a tour of
pleasure and had not been heard of until this day. His majesty, much
troubled, desired a cover to be placed for her, but it was of common
delf, for he had ordered from his jeweller only seven gold dishes for
the seven fairies aforesaid. The elderly fairy thought herself
neglected, and muttered angry menaces, which were overheard by one of
the younger fairies, who chanced to sit beside her. This good
godmother, afraid of harm to the pretty baby, hastened to hide herself
behind the tapestry in the hall. She did this because she wished all
the others to speak first--so that if any ill gift were bestowed on
the child she might be able to counteract it.

The six now offered their good wishes--which, unlike most wishes, were
sure to come true. The fortunate little princess was to grow up the
fairest woman in the world; to have a temper sweet as an angel; to be
perfectly graceful and gracious; to sing like a nightingale; to dance
like a leaf on a tree; and to possess every accomplishment under the
sun. Then the old fairy's turn came. Shaking her head spitefully, she
uttered the wish that when the baby grew up into a young lady, and
learned to spin, she might prick her finger with the spindle and die
of the wound.

At this terrible prophecy all the guests shuddered, and some of the
more tender-hearted began to weep. The lately happy parents were
almost out of their wits with grief. Upon which the wise young fairy
appeared from behind the tapestry, saying cheerfully; "Your majesties
may comfort yourselves; the princess shall not die. I have no power to
alter the ill-fortune just wished her by my ancient sister--her finger
must be pierced, and she shall then sink, not into the sleep of death,
but into a sleep that will last a hundred years. After that time is
ended the son of a king will find her, awaken her, and marry her."

Immediately all the fairies vanished.

The king, in the hope of avoiding his daughter's doom, issued an edict
forbidding all persons to spin, and even to have spinning-wheels in
their houses, on pain of instant death. But it was in vain. One day,
when she was just fifteen years of age, the king and queen left their