“The moon was shining as bright as day, and the little girl went for a walk.  She was thinking of the father and mother at home, and did not notice very carefully the direction in which she was wandering.  After a while she grew tired and turned back.  Then she became frightened because she could not see her tent, and could not remember which way she had come.  She called for her servants, but could make no one hear her.  She ran this way and that in the forest, but seemed only to go further and further away from the camp.  At last, very tired, she lay down on the ground and cried herself to sleep.

“Next morning when the servants awoke they were very much alarmed to discover that the princess had left her tent.  They spent several days seeking her in the forest, but not a trace of her could they find.  Then they went back to inform the king and queen, who were sad indeed to hear such news.  The king himself rode off to search in the forest, but even he could not find the little maid.

“Meanwhile the princess had been wandering further and further away into the great forest, with the pigeon tied to her arm.  Fortunately, she had brought with her a small basket full of lunch, which had been left by her bed in case she should be hungry during the night.  That was soon gone, however, and then she had a hard time finding enough to eat.  But here and there she discovered wild berries, she drank water from the clear, cold springs, and at night she found a comfortable, fragrant bed under the pine trees, or in places where the grass was long and soft.  Sometimes wild animals came out, and looked at the little girl, but they did not harm her.

“At last, the third day, she came to a large palace in the woods.  Oh! how happy she was.  A prince met her at the door, invited her in, and gave her delicious food and beautiful clothes.  When she was rested after her long journey, she told the prince who she was, and the reason for her being alone in the forest, and begged him to send her home.  The prince was sorry for the little princess, but he was lonely in such a large palace, so he asked her to live there with him.  He was very kind to her, but the princess wanted only to go home to be with her father and mother.

“‘Your palace is larger and more beautiful than my father’s house,’ she told him, ’but I love my own home best, and I want to go back this very day.’

“The prince was sorrowful when he heard what the little girl said; but, hoping she might learn to care for his palace after a while, he gave her a beautiful room filled with lovely things, and did everything he could think of to make her happy.

“The little princess did try to be happy, but it was not possible.  Every evening she watched the birds fly back to their nests and she wished that she, too, had wings and could fly away home.  The pigeon was as homesick as she.  He would not eat, and pulled at the cord all the time, trying to free himself.  Finally the little princess decided to let him fly away.  ‘Perhaps he can find his way home,’ she thought; ’anyway I shall let him try.’