s received by the forty slaves, he nearly lost his
wits from surprise.

'I will assuredly give my daughter to the old woman's son,' thought he.
'If I were to search all the world through I could never find a more
powerful son-in-law.'

And when the old woman entered his presence he informed her that he was
ready to fulfil his promise, and she was to bid her son appear at the
palace without delay.

This command did not at all please the old woman, though, of course, she
made no objections to the sultan.

'All has gone well so far,' she grumbled, when she told her story to
the head,' but what do you suppose the sultan will say, when he sees his
daughter's husband?'

'Never mind what he says! Put me on a silver dish and carry me to the
palace.'

So it was done, though the old woman's heart beat as she laid down the
dish with the head upon it.

At the sight before him the king flew into a violent rage.

'I will never marry my daughter to such a monster,' he cried. But the
princess placed her head gently on his arm.

'You have given your word, my father, and you cannot break it,' said
she.

'But, my child, it is impossible for you to marry such a being,'
exclaimed the sultan.

'Yes, I will marry him. He had a beautiful head, and I love him
already.'

So the marriage was celebrated, and great feasts were held in the
palace, though the people wept tears to think of the sad fate of their
beloved princess. But when the merry-making was done, and the young
couple were alone, the head suddenly disappeared, or, rather, a body
was added to it, and one of the handsomest young men that ever was seen
stood before the princess.

'A wicked fairy enchanted me at my birth,' he said, 'and for the rest of
the world I must always be a head only. But for you, and you only, I am
a man like other men.'

'And that is all I care about,' said the princess.

[Traditions populaires de toutes les nations (Asie Mineure)].

The Sister of the Sun

A long time ago there lived a young prince whose favourite playfellow
was the son of the gardener who lived in the grounds of the palace. The
king would have preferred his choosing a friend from the pages who were
brought up at court; but the prince would have nothing to say to them,
and as he was a spoilt child, and allowed his way in all things, and the
gardener's boy was quiet and well-behaved, he was suffered to be in the
palace, morning, noon, and night.

The game the ch