Then they went out together, and presently the king and queen also awoke, and all the court, and they gazed on each other with great wonder.  And the horses got up and shook themselves, and the dogs jumped about and barked; the pigeons took their heads from under their wings, and looked around and flew into the fields; the flies on the walls buzzed; the fire in the kitchen blazed up and cooked the dinner, and the roast meat turned round again; the cook gave the boy the box on his ear so that he cried out, and the maid went to milk the cows.  And then was the wedding of the prince and Briar Rose celebrated, and they lived happily together all their lives long.

[Illustration:  Painted by Jennie Harbour THE SLEEPING BEAUTY]

[Illustration: 

More close and close his footsteps wind: 
The Magic Music in his heart
Beats quick and quicker, till he find
The quiet chamber far apart. 

          
                                                                  Tennyson]

PRINCE CHERI

There was once a king who was such an honourable man that his subjects called him “The Good King.”

One day while he was out hunting, a little rabbit that his dogs were about to kill, threw itself into his arms.  The King caressed the little creature, and said: 

“As you have put yourself under my protection nobody shall harm you,” and he carried the rabbit to his palace, and ordered a pretty little hutch to be made for it.

That night when he was alone in his room, there appeared a lovely lady.  She wore a robe as white as snow, and a wreath of white roses on her head.  She addressed him thus: 

“I am the Fairy Candide; I wished to see if you were as good as everybody declares you are, and for this reason I changed myself into the little rabbit, and ran to you in my distress, for I know that those who have pity for dumb creatures have still more pity for mankind.  I have come to thank you for what you did and to say that I shall always be your friend, and will grant any request you would now like to make.”

[Illustration]

“Madam,” replied the King, “I have one only son whom I love devotedly; he is named Prince Cheri; if you have any good will for me, be a friend to my son.”

[Illustration]

“Willingly,” responded the Fairy, “I will make your son the most handsome prince in the world, or the richest, or the most powerful; choose which you will for him.”

“I desire none of these things,” replied the King, “but I shall be very much obliged if you will make him the best of all princes, for what good would it do to him to be handsome, rich, or powerful if he were wicked?  You know he would be unhappy, for it is only goodness which brings content.”

“You are right,” answered the Fairy, “but that I cannot do; Prince Cheri must himself strive to become good.  All that I can promise is that I will give him good advice, and punish him for his faults, if he will not himself correct them.”