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.. FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

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FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. Princess Pick-me-up. ) By E. MAUD TAYLOR. Once upon a time there lived a king and Jineen who were very happy indeed in fact khey had only one trouble in lite, and even it did not make them very miserable. It was this. They had only one child, and she J&s so small that she looked more like a beau- tiful little doll than anything else. Now, this Was very sad, for whoever heard of a royal Princess who was so tiny that she had to sit at the King's banqueting table in a baby's high ^hair 1 Nobody, I'm sure. and they all hoped that nobody ever would again, for it really was e. very sad thine, and what made it seem even re dreadful was that nearly everyone called r Princess Pick-me-up. Pick-me-up, indeed, and she had actually christened Estella Lavinia Priscilla Joan Yefc it was not until she had had 15 different Sobernesses, all chosen for their unusual strict- ness, and as many nurses as there Were letters «H_her name, that she began to learn that a Princess, no matter how small she may be, toust not ask to be picked up! You see, she Was so very tiny that she could never see or do What she wanted, but as she was dainty and •feet as a fairy.. everyone forgot that she was the princess, and so it happened that whenever 4he said 6* Pick-mo-up in a voice like a silver Oell, she was lilted off her feet before ever she ■" -had time to look disappointed. But this could not go on any longer-she was actually seventeen years of age, and the time j had come when the King must find a husband for her. "It was the most puzzling question that the poor King, her father, had ever had to settle, 4ud the Queen announced that three of his "airs had turned white with the worry. All the princes and nobles from the King's 2eakm, and the countries round about, crowded tound the poor monarch, lamenting loudly that they were too big to marry Princess Pick-me- tip., for the Princess herself declared most deci- I y that she would not marry any one who Was more than a head taller than herself. -Now, although no one knew it, there was one n who was very much in love with the We princess, but alas not only was he of y birth, but, unfortunately, he was one of lIiIle tallest men in the whole kingdom. He was IqUit-e a giant, and for that reason had been ap- s Pointed to act as sentry at the gates of the s. palace. There he used to stand, and he Would watch the pretty little princess as she •trayed about the court-yard or the palace Saddens, and he was always ready to dart. for- ward if he heard the welcome words, Pick- Ine-up." He had heard them very often in past Yeafs, for no one else could lift the little maiden 80 easily or half so high as he could. Who else show her the inside of the fountain j or j*he birds' nests in the garden? But lately, alas the governess ha-d really succeeded -and poor little Estella Lavinia Priscilla Joan bad learned to resist the awful temptation. After many long debates between the King &nd his learned advisers as to what they could to find a suitable husband for Princess ^ick-me-up, they decided to send a messenger **Vask the advice of a very, very old witch who Jwed up amongst the hills, and who had lived there so very, very long, that nobody—not ven she herself-could say how old she was. .The messenger was accordingly sent, and as the time passed by and the day for his return drew near, there was great excitement in the Palace. At length he arrived, one lonely summer's corning, and for over an hour he remained p°ne with the King in his private room. At he appeared with a message from the King ~h*t all the princes and nobles who had sought the hand of Princfess Pick-me-up in marriage, "ere to be gathered together as quickly as Possible, and were to meet at the palace the following day at four o'clock. Messengers rode in all directions to the Swings, and in a short time the royal city was ^frowded with the princess's suitors. Four o'clock of the appointed day came. The Palace was filled and all the princes and gallant young lords and nobles, were beseeching the king in turn that they might be honoured with the hand of the Princess, and as they did So each wondered what the witch would do to -little Pick-me-up in order to make her only a T?|horter than hiraaplf. and Queen mounted their thrones nr-. ^^Pybodv watched eagerly forthe little prIncess to appear also, but the King an- oixQCecj that 8he would not be seen until a had been chosen for her. He then made a sign and the messenger came _0ljward, followed by a retainer carrying a 5j°lden salver on which stood a eery tiny class filled with some strange black liquid which looked very much like ink or tar in a few words the messenger explained that had had great difficulty in making the tch understand his errand, as she had be- e so old and deaf that she scarce seemed to what he said. After a time, however, she appeared to understand what he said to her, when she did so, told him to go away but 9 come back again the following day. This be did, and when he came again to her cave she %ve him the tiny flask, saying that he who V^shed to become the Princess's husband must its contents, but—and here she had very distressed—though she believed it Would immediately make him grow smaller and 601aller until he was only a quarter as big as he been before drinking it, yet she could not absolutely certain that it might not cause tn who drank it to grow bigger and bigger, jjfctil he was four times aa large as he had been This was all she was able to do, and actually fell asleep without saying good- yeto the Royal messenger. When the messenger had finished his speech, Itnd had told them all the old witch had said, the mysterious little flask was banded to the who announced that all who sought the ~*fcd of the little Princess Pick-ene-up must °Hie forward that one of their mfrnber might chosen for her husband, and that he might the magic draught before them all. Alas'! alas' of all the princes and nobles Who, ten minutes before, had been loud in their Protestations of love for the little princess, was not one who would now come for- ^ard, for not one of them loved her well to run the risk of drinking the witch's potion, and so, perhaps, being made four times Five minutes passed, and still nobody came rward, and the King became quite white Vgith anger. Ten minutes passed, and still no Olle moved, and then the King was so wroth at he burst forth into a torrent of angry "fds, lamenting the faithlessness of the Princes and nobles because they would not risk allything to win even the hand of the Princess, ad declaring as his royal decree than any of ■gf subjects, no matter how humble or lowly to^J1 station, if they loved his daughter enough drink the witch's potion for her sake, might. "&^er hand in marriage. th ° hardly uttered these words when Was a suc'den commotion far back near the door of the Hall, as bursting through tile-crowd of princes and nobles, and pushing ilia way boldly to the feet of the King, there JPpeared the stalwart form of the sentry from "he palace gates. Sire," he said, I am but humble and thy rvant-but a coward I am not. I would that I flight drink the witch's draught, and should it me smaller, then will I be the Princess's J^thfu] squire, and right thankful if, through j^.Her stature, I can serve her the better than Jain can now." 8f ? brave speech so pleased the King, that, pooping from his throne, he placed the little ~ask in the hand of his faithful sentry, who no hisoner received it than he lifted it eagerly to jTs 'ips and drained it to the dregs—little reck- -8 that if the draught should make him times taller his head would most certainly j*ttie in contact with the ceiling. B,ardly had e last drop been swallowed when the brave ntry felt the strangest sensation, just like in,6 .very. very worst growing pains you cfen ip&uie, and all over him, too ann i6te w.as sentry actually growing less j-- ess in front of their very eyes, and the and the Queen, and all the faithless g?^ces and Nobles and Lords, and all the *diers and waiting- men, and retainers, stared stared at him, till their eyes were almost out of their heads, because, you see, it as just life a fairy story. In a few minutes the sentry stopped growing a <? ss> an(i there he stood before them—only looU;ar^er 33 lapge 33 ke had been before, and Jong like a handsome little fairy prince Prrucess Pick-me-up was then led into the aPd when she saw her old playfellow she He*#0 overcome with joy that she rushed to Wo, her, the king, and declared that she. QfOUld marry no one else. To this the King, ,course, readily assented, and the following 8ni they were married with great pomp and ^'etidour.

BRIDGEND STREET DANGERS.

[No title]

AT Y BEIRDD.

BARDDONIAETH.

Y LOFA.

YN YR ARDD.

GOBAITH.

WRTH Y FFYNNON.

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YMWELWYR GLANAU'R MOR.

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BARMAID'S LAST LETTER.

NON-INTOXICATING REFRESHMENTS.

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BROKEN PLEDGES."

EBBW VALE DOCTORS' FUND. -

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Right of Free Speech. .

Wesleyan Conference. .

__ IRISH FERRY BOAT UPSET.

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A SCIENTIST AND THE SU FFRAGETTES.

CARDIFF I.L.P. PROCESSION.

AMBULANCE SHIELD CONTEST.

.....--TALKS ON HEALTH. .

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LATE MR JOHN PAVEY, J.P.