Part 22 (1/2)

”No,” said another, ”the horse is really not so successful; the turn of the neck, there, is aard”

”If you would change the right hind-foot, Herr Grupello,” said a third, ”it would be an improvement”

Still another found fault with the horse's tail

The artist listened, quietly When they had all finished, he turned to the prince and said, ”Your courtiers, Prince, find a good many flaws in the statue of the horse; will you permit me to keep it a few days more, to do what I can with it?”

The Elector assented, and the artist ordered a temporary screen built around the statue, so that his assistants could work undisturbed For several days the sound of ha came steadily from behind the enclosure The courtiers, who took care to pass that way, often, were delighted Each one said to hiht, really; the artist hi; now I shall have credit for saving the prince's portrait by my artistic taste!”

Once more the artist summoned the prince and his courtiers, and once ain the Elector exclaimed at its beauty, and then he turned to his courtiers, one after another, to see what they had to say

”Perfect!” said the first ”Now that the horse's head is in proportion, there is not a flaw”

”The change in the neck was just as needed,” said the second; ”it is very graceful now”

”The rear right foot is as it should be, now,” said a third, ”and it adds so much to the beauty of the whole!”

The fourth said that he considered the tail greatly improved

”My courtiers are much pleased now,” said the prince to Herr Grupello; ”they think the statue es you have lad they are pleased,” he said, ”but the fact is, I have changed nothing!”

”What do you mean?” said the prince in surprise ”Have we not heard the sound of ha at then?”

”I was ha at the reputation of your courtiers, who found fault simply because they were jealous,” said the artist ”And I rather think that their reputation is pretty well hahed heartily, but the courtiers slunk away, one after another, without a word

PRINCE CHERRY[1]

[1] A shortened version of the fa, so wise and kind and true that the ood fairy of his land visited him and asked hirant it

”Surely you know it,” said the good king; ”it is for my only son, Prince Cherry; do for him whatever you would have done for reat fairy; ”choose what I shall give him I can make him the richest, the most beautiful, or the most powerful prince in the world; choose”

”None of those things are what I want,” said the king ”I want only that he shall be good Of what use will it be to hirows into a badyou!”

”Alas, I cannot ood,” said the fairy; ”he ood advice, reprove hi, and punish him if he will not punish himself; I can and will be his best friend, but I cannotwas sad to hear this, but he rejoiced in the friendshi+p of the fairy for his son And when he died, soon after, he was happy to know that he left Prince Cherry in her hands

Prince Cherry grieved for his father and often lay awake at night, thinking of hiht, when he was all alone in his rooht suddenly shone before hiood fairy She was clad in robes of dazzling white, and on her shi+ning hair she wore a wreath of white roses

”I am the Fairy Candide,” she said to the prince ”I promised your father that I would be your best friend, and as long as you live I shall watch over your happiness I have brought you a gift; it is not wonderful to look at, but it has a wonderful power for your welfare; wear it, and let it help you”