and clasped his hands. At this moment the Princess Desiree came
out, mounted on a pure-white horse and looking more beautiful and lovely
than she had ever been. Giroflee was also with her as her attendant. The
spell had been removed for ever.

At sight of them the old King blessed them, and said that he would give
his kingdom to his son as soon as he was married to the Princess
Desiree. The Princess thanked him a thousand times for his goodness, and
then the King ordered the army to return to the city, for there would be
no war, but only rejoicing.

Back into the capital, a mighty procession--an army headed by its
rulers, and victorious without striking a blow. Great was the joy of all
the people to see the Prince and the Princess, and they showered upon
them heaps of presents the like of which was never seen.

The faithful Becafigue begged the Prince to allow him to marry Giroflee.
She was delighted to have such a great offer, and more than delighted to
remain in a land where she would always be with her dear Princess.

Now the Fairy Tulip, when she heard all that had happened, resolved, out
of the goodness of her heart, to give Giroflee a splendid present, so
that her husband should not have the advantage of being the richer. It
will astonish you to hear that she gave her four big gold mines in
India; and you know what gold mines in India are worth.

And the marriage feasts lasted several months. Each day was a greater
day than the one before; and every day the adventures of the little
White Hind were sung throughout the country, even as they are still
sung, in boudoir, fireside, and camp, to this very day.

IVAN AND THE CHESTNUT HORSE

A RUSSIAN FAIRY TALE

In a far land where they pay people to keep its name a profound secret,
there lived an old man who brought up his three sons just exactly in the
way they should go. He taught them the three R's, and also showed them
what books to read and how to read them. He was particularly careful
about their education, for he had learned that to know things was to be
able to do things.

At last, when he came to die, he gathered his three sons round his
deathbed and cautioned them.

'Do not forget,' he said--'do not forget to come and read the prayers
over my grave.'

'We will not forget, father,' they replied.

The two elder brothers were great big, strapping fellows, but the
youngest one, Ivan, was a mere stripling. As they all stood around the
bed of