w, many is the time that my mother
has said, when I played her a trick that my end would be that I should
hang on the bridge of Dublin.'

'Oh, if you want to fulfil her prophecies,' laughed the princess, 'you
have only to let me tie my handkerchief round your ankle, and I will
hold you as you hang over the wall of the bridge.'

'That would be fine fun,' said he; 'but you are not strong enough to
hold me up.'

'Oh yes, I am,' said the princess; 'just try.' So at last he let her
bind the handkerchief round his ankle and hang him over the wall, and
they both laughed and jested at the strength of the princess.

'Now pull me up again,' called he; but as he spoke a great cry arose
that the palace was burning. The princess turned round with a start, and
let go her handkerchief, and the Shifty Lad fell, and struck his head on
a stone, and died in an instant.

So his mother's prophecy had come true, after all.

West Highland Tales.

_THE FALSE PRINCE AND THE TRUE_

THE king had just awakened from his midday sleep, for it was summer, and
everyone rose early and rested from twelve to three, as they do in hot
countries. He had dressed himself in cool white clothes, and was passing
through the hall on his way to the council chamber, when a number of
young nobles suddenly appeared before him, and one amongst them stepped
forward and spoke.

'Sire, this morning we were all playing tennis in the court, the prince
and this gentleman with the rest, when there broke out some dispute
about the game. The prince lost his temper, and said many insulting
things to the other, who was playing against him, till at length the
gentleman whom you see there struck him violently in the face, so that
the blood ran from his mouth and nose. We were all so horrified at the
sight, that we should most likely have killed the man then and there,
for daring to lay hands on the prince, had not his grandfather the duke
stepped between and commanded us to lay the affair before you.'

The king had listened attentively to the story, and when it was ended he
said:

'I suppose the prince had no arms with him, or else he would have used
them?'

'Yes, sire, he had arms; he always carries a dagger in his belt. But
when he saw the blood pouring from his face, he went to a corner of the
court and began to cry, which was the strangest thing of all.'

On hearing this the king walked to the window and stood for a few
minutes with his back to th