our sword, cut off my head and my tail, and cast them into the
flames," she said.

The Prince declared that on no account would he treat her so cruelly;
but she begged him so earnestly to do as she asked that at last he
consented.

No sooner had he cast the head and the tail into the fire than a
beautiful Princess appeared where the body of the cat had been. The
spell that had been cast upon her was broken, and at the same time
her courtiers and attendants, who had also been changed into cats,
hastened in in their proper forms again, to pay their respects to
their mistress.

The Prince at once fell deeply in love with the charming Princess, and
begged her to accompany him to his father's court as his bride.

She consented, and together they rode away. During the journey, the
Princess told her husband the story of her enchantment.

She had been brought up by the fairies, who treated her with great
kindness until she offended them by falling in love with the young
man whose portrait the Prince had seen upon her paw, and who exactly
resembled him.

Now, the fairies wished her to marry the King of the Dwarfs, and were
so angry when she declared she would marry no one but her own true
love, that they changed her into a White Cat as a punishment.

When the Prince and his bride reached the court, all were bound to
acknowledge that the Princess was by far the loveliest lady they had
ever seen.

So the poor old King felt that now he would be obliged to give up his
kingdom. But the Princess knelt by his side, kissed his hand gently,
and told him that there was no reason for him to cease ruling, for she
was rich enough to give a mighty kingdom to each of his elder sons,
and still have three left for herself and her dear husband.

So everyone was pleased, and there was great rejoicing and feasting in
the King's palace, and they all lived happily ever after.

* * * * *

THE STORY OF PRETTY GOLDILOCKS

There was once a Princess so lovely that no one could see her without
loving her. Her hair fell about her shoulders in waving masses, and
because it was the color of gold, she was called Pretty Goldilocks.
She always wore a crown of flowers, and her dresses were embroidered
with pearls and diamonds.

The fame of her beauty reached a young King, who determined to marry
her, although he had never seen her. He sent an ambassador to ask
her hand in marriage; and so confident was he th