the
richest merchant in the city, but a very poor man.

There was still left to him a little house in the country, and to
this, when everything else had been sold, he retired. His three
daughters, of course, went with him.

Marigold and Dressalinda were very cross to think that they had lost
all their money, and after being so rich and sought after, they must
now live in a miserable cottage.

But Beauty's only thought was to cheer her old father, and while her
two sisters sat on wooden chairs and cried and bewailed themselves,
Beauty lighted the fire and got the supper ready, for the merchant was
now so poor that he could not even keep a servant.

And so it went on. The two eldest sisters would do nothing but sulk in
corners, while Beauty swept the floors and washed the dishes, and did
her best to make the poor cottage pleasant. They led their sister a
dreadful life too, with their complaints, for not only did they refuse
to do anything themselves, but they said that everything she did was
done wrong. But Beauty bore all their unkindness patiently, for her
father's sake.

In this way a whole year went by, and then one day a letter came for
the merchant.

He hastened to find his daughters, for he was anxious to tell them the
good news contained in the letter.

"My dear children," he said, "at last our luck has turned. This letter
says that one of the ships supposed to have been lost has come safely
home to port, and if that be so, we need no longer live in poverty. We
shall not be so rich as before, but we shall have enough to keep us in
comfort. Get me my traveling-cloak, Beauty. I will set out at once to
claim my ship. And now tell me, girls, what shall I bring you when I
come back?"

"A hundred pounds," said Marigold, without hesitating an instant.

"I want a new silk dress," said Dressalinda, "an apple-green one, sewn
with seed-pearls, and green shoes with red heels, and a necklace of
emeralds, and a box of gloves."

"And what shall I bring for you, my Beauty?" asked the father, as his
little daughter helped him to put on his traveling-cloak.

"Oh, bring me a rose," said Beauty hastily.

Her father kissed her fondly, and set out.

"You silly girl," said Marigold, "you just want our father to think
you are more unselfish than we are--that's what you want! A rose,
indeed!"

"Indeed, sister," said Beauty, "that was not the reason. I thought our
father would have enough to do in seeing to the safety of