Now the princess did not know of this, and she forgot to tell her mother that she intended to make the dress.  That was the cause of all the trouble.

The princess cut and sewed, and sewed and cut, until the dress was finished.  Then she laid aside her old gown, of red and brown, and dressed herself in the new one.  She was just about to replace the needle in the workbasket, before showing herself to her mother, when, suddenly, she pricked her finger.

Immediately she sank back on her bed fast asleep.  At that very instant the king and queen fell asleep, too.  So did the animals, but the birds flew away.  Even the little flies, who had been buzzing on the walls, went fast asleep.  Then it was very still everywhere, because no one was stirring to make a noise.  Even the trees were quiet, for their leaves had all dropped off, and they seemed to be sleeping too.

They slept a long, long time.

Then, the most splendid prince in all the world approached the palace gate.  This prince had wonderful golden hair, and he was clothed entirely in shining gold.  He rode in a chariot so bright that it could be seen for many miles.  His horses were swift and he travelled fast, on his journey throughout the world.

When at last he reached the princess’s house, he regarded it with wonder.

“How very quiet,” he murmured.  “Can it be that anyone lives in this gloomy place?”

He stepped out of his chariot and tiptoed in, through the open door.  He stepped so softly that no one could have heard him, but he shone so brightly that he made the whole house light.

The splendid prince saw that everybody and everything was fast asleep.

In their rooms he found the king and queen.

At last he came to the room where lying upon her bed was the princess.

Very lovely she was, in her dress as white as snow trimmed with pearls and diamonds.  The prince leaned over to see her better, and he made the diamonds sparkle so brilliantly that if you had been there you would have needed to close your eyes.

“This is the most beautiful princess in all the world,” said the prince.  “I wish she would waken.”

Then he kissed her.

Immediately the beautiful princess opened her eyes and looked at the prince.  At that same moment the king and queen awoke from their sleep.  So did the animals, and all the flowers, and the little buds on the trees.  The flies began to buzz about on the walls, and the birds came flying back, singing their sweetest songs.

The princess was very happy to be awake again.  She attired herself in a lovely dress, indeed the loveliest one that she possessed.  It was bright green, with jewels as clear as the rain drops.  Then the king and queen ordered a marriage feast, and the beautiful princess married the splendid prince.

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Johnnie Jones and the Butterfly