Esor, of course, but the Prince called her Princess Rose, and if you will spell Esor backward you will learn why.

[Pg 117]

[Pg 117]

  

CILLA AND THE DWARF

Once upon a time there lived a king who had a very beautiful daughter, and her suitors came from far and near.

O

Among them was a dwarf with a huge head and a very long nose. Of course, no one expected the Princess to marry the ugly creature, but the dwarf did, and when the Princess refused he flew into a rage and said he would have her in spite of all she said.

At last the Princess gave her hand to a prince, but the night the wedding was to take place the Princess was nowhere to be found. They hunted high and low all over the palace, but no trace could they find of her; even her wedding-dress disappeared, too. The Prince was in despair and wrung his hands and cried[Pg 118] out he would give to any one who would find the Princess half of his fortune.

[Pg 118]

The King also said he would give half of his kingdom to the one who would bring back the lost Princess.

Now, there was among the servants a little kitchen-maid named Cilla, who loved the Princess because she always spoke kindly to her, and when she knew her mistress was lost she resolved to find her at any cost.

So one night when all the people in the palace were sound asleep Cilla stole out and went to a witch who lived in the woods and asked her to help her to find the Princess.

“I can only help you a little,” said the witch, “as she is in the power of one who is more powerful than I am, but this much I can do: Here is a bean that will do magic work if used in the right way; whether it will help you to find your Princess I cannot tell. The dwarf has carried her off, and where he is I do not know.”

Cilla said she would take the bean. She thanked the witch and started off through the woods to look for the 

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