Stories to Read or Tell from Fairy Tales and Folklore
careful--be careful not to leave one of my bones on the tree." For a long time the prince refused to obey her request until Yellow Lily grew vexed and said: "Then I will tell father that I have been helping you, and he will kill us both. Make haste, for the time is short." "Yellow Lily of Loch Lein!" shouted the prince, without looking at her. "Yellow Lily of Loch Lein!" he shouted again. Then he looked down and saw at his feet a stack of little white bones. He gathered them up and, climbing slowly, made a little ladder by sticking them against the tree. He soon reached the crow's nest, found the egg, placed it in his pocket, and climbed down again, plucking the bones from the tree as he went. Then he piled them upon the flesh and garments of the girl and, with tears in his eyes, shouted: "Come back, Yellow Lily of Loch Lein." And immediately Yellow Lily stood before him, but no longer smiling. "Wretch!" she cried. "You have made me a cripple for life! You are nothing but a careless boy after all." "Oh, what have I neglected to do?" cried the prince, sick with fear. "There is one of my little toes still hanging to the tree. Oh, what an awkward creature a prince is!" The prince on his knees begged her pardon, and finally Yellow Lily broke into her old, sweet smile and said: "I am thankful it is no worse. What a sight I would be if you had forgotten my backbone!" So they became merry and talkative again until it was time for the giant to arrive. Then Yellow Lily went to her tower and the prince took his stand at the castle gate holding the crow's egg. "You are certainly a magician!" gasped the giant when he saw the prince. "I cannot take your head, lest a worse fate befall me. Go home at once. Do not linger here a minute." The prince wanted to bid farewell to Yellow Lily, but of course, that was impossible, so he hastened home as fast as he could. When he reached the Palace of Erin, the king, the queen, old Glic, and all the court ran out to greet him. Never before had there been such rejoicing there. For days they feasted and danced to melodious music, and a tournament was held in which the best archers in the kingdom tested their skill. A year later, old Glic, who was always making trouble, told the king that it was time for the prince to marry some noble lady of great wealth. The prince would have liked to marry Yellow Lily, but the king said that he must choose a princess whose rank was equal to his own. In despair the prince told Glic to select him a wife soon or he would go roaming again and never return. "I have found a suitable lady," said Glic. "Her father is the King of Loch Lein, the kingdom that is next to ours. Her father is powerful, her family is famous, her wealth cannot be counted, and she is as beautiful as the Queen of the 
 Prev. P 46/69 next 
Back Top
Privacy Statement Terms of Service Contact