Page 467 - Child's own book

THE YELLOW DWARF.

T h e r e was once a queen, who, though she had been the
mother of several children, had buried them all except one
daughter, of whom she was excessively fond, humouring and
indulging her in all her ways and wishes. This ptmeees was
so extremely beautiful, that she was called All-Fair, and
twenty kings were, at one time, paying their addresses to her.
Her mother, being advanced in years, was anxious to see her
married and settled before she died ; Imt aa no entreaties could
prevail, she determined to go to the Desert Fairy to ask advice
concerning her stubborn daughter.
Now, tli is fa try being guarded byT two fierce lions, the queen
made a cake of millet, augar-candy, and crocodiles' eggs, in
order to appease their fury, and pass by them ; and having thus
provided herself, she set out. After travelling some time she
found herself weary, and
lying down under a tree
fell asleep. When she
awoke, she heard the
roaring of the lions
which guarded the fauy,
and on looking foT her
cake she found it was
gone. This threw her
into the utmost agony,
not knowing how to
save herself from being
devoured; when, hearing somebody approach* she raised her