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THE STORY OF PRETTY GOLDILOCKS
ONCE upon a time there was a princess who was the
prettiest creature in the world。 And because she was so
beautiful； and because her hair was like the finest gold；
and waved and rippled nearly to the ground； she was
called Pretty Goldilocks。 She always wore a crown of
flowers； and her dresses were embroidered with diamonds
and pearls； and everybody who saw her fell in love with
her。
Now one of her neighbors was a young king who was
not married。 He was very rich and handsome； and when
he heard all that was said about Pretty Goldilocks； though
he had never seen her； he fell so deeply in love with her
that he could neither eat nor drink。 So he resolved to
send an ambassador to ask her in marriage。 He had a
splendid carriage made for his ambassador； and gave him
more than a hundred horses and a hundred servants； and
told him to be sure and bring the Princess back with him。
After he had started nothing else was talked of at Court；
and the King felt so sure that the Princess would consent
that he set his people to work at pretty dresses and splendid
furniture； that they might be ready by the time she
came。 Meanwhile； the ambassador arrived at the Princess's
palace and delivered his little message； but whether
she happened to be cross that day； or whether the
compliment did not please her； is not known。 She only
answered that she was very much obliged to the King； but
she had no wish to be married。 The ambassador set off
sadly on his homeward way； bringing all the King's
presents back with him； for the Princess was too well
brought up to accept the pearls and diamonds when she
would not accept the King； so she had only kept twenty…
five English pins that he might not be vexed。
When the ambassador reached the city； where the
King was waiting impatiently； everybody was very much
annoyed with him for not bringing the Princess； and the
King cried like a baby； and nobody could console him。
Now there was at the Court a young man； who was more
clever and handsome than anyone else。 He was called
Charming； and everyone loved him； excepting a few
envious people who were angry at his being the King's
favorite and knowing all the State secrets。 He happened
to one day be with some people who were speaking of the
ambassador's return and saying that his going to the
Princess had not done much good； when Charming said
rashly：
〃If the King had sent me to the Princess Goldilocks I
am sure she would have come back with me。〃
His enemies at once went to the King and said：
〃You will hardly believe； sire； what Charming has the
audacity to saythat if HE had been sent to the Princess
Goldilocks she would certainly have come back with him。
He seems to think that he is so much handsomer than you
that the Princess would have fallen in love with him and
followed him willingly。〃 The King was very angry when
he heard this。
〃Ha； ha！〃 said he； 〃does he laugh at my unhappiness；
and think himself more fascinating than I am？ Go； and
let him be shut up in my great tower to die of hunger。〃
So the King's guards went to fetch Charming； who had
thought no more of his rash speech； and carried him off to
prison with great cruelty。 The poor prisoner had only a
little straw for his bed； and but for a little stream of water
which flowed through the tower he would have died of
thirst。
One day when he was in despair he said to himself：
〃How can I have offended the King？ I am his most
faithful subject； and have done nothing against him。〃
The King chanced to be passing the tower and recognized
the voice of his former favorite。 He stopped to listen
in spite of Charming's enemies； who tried to persuade
him to have nothing more to do with the traitor。 But the
King said：
〃Be quiet； I wish to hear what he says。〃
And then he opened the tower door and called to
Charming； who came very sadly and kissed the King's
hand； saying：
〃What have I done； sire； to deserve this cruel treatment？〃
〃You mocked me and my ambassador；〃 said the King；
〃and you said that if I had sent you for the Princess
Goldilocks you would certainly have brought her back。〃
〃It is quite true； sire；〃 replied Charming； 〃I should have
drawn such a picture of you； and represented your good
qualities in such a way； that I am certain the Princess
would have found you irresistible。 But I cannot see what
there is in that to make you angry。〃
The King could not see any cause for anger either when
the matter was presented to him in this light； and he be…
gan to frown very fiercely at the courtiers who had so
misrepresented his favorite。
So he took Charming back to the palace with him； and
after seeing that he had a very good supper he said to
him：
〃You know that I love Pretty Goldilocks as much as
ever； her refusal has not made any difference to me； but
I don't know how to make her change her mind； I really
should like to send you； to see if you can persuade her to
marry me。〃
Charming replied that he was perfectly willing to go；
and would set out the very next day。
〃But you must wait till I can get a grand escort for
you；〃 said the King。 But Charming said that he only
wanted a good horse to ride； and the King； who was
delighted at his being ready to start so promptly； gave him
letters to the Princess； and bade him good speed。 It was
on a Monday morning that he set out all alone upon his
errand； thinking of nothing but how he could persuade
the Princess Goldilocks to marry the King。 He had a
writing…book in his pocket； and whenever any happy
thought struck him he dismounted from his horse and sat
down under the trees to put it into the harangue which
he was preparing for the Princess； before he forgot it。
One day when he had started at the very earliest dawn；
and was riding over a great meadow； he suddenly had a
capital idea； and； springing from his horse； he sat down
under a willow tree which grew by a little river。 When
he had written it down he was looking round him； pleased
to find himself in such a pretty place； when all at once he
saw a great golden carp lying gasping and exhausted upon
the grass。 In leaping after little flies she had thrown
herself high upon the bank； where she had lain till she was
nearly dead。 Charming had pity upon her； and； though
he couldn't help thinking that she would have been very
nice for dinner； he picked her up gently and put her back
into the water。 As soon as Dame Carp felt the refreshing
coolness of the water she sank down joyfully to the
bottom of the river； then； swimming up to the bank quite
boldly； she said：
〃I thank you； Charming； for the kindness you have
done me。 You have saved my life； one day I will repay
you。〃 So saying； she sank down into the water again；
leaving Charming greatly astonished at her politeness。
Another day； as he journeyed on； he saw a raven in
great distress。 The poor bird was closely pursued by an
eagle； which would soon have eaten it up； had not Charming
quickly fitted an arrow to his bow and shot the eagle
dead。 The raven perched upon a tree very joyfully。
〃Charming；〃 said he； 〃it was very generous of you to
rescue a poor raven； I am not ungrateful； some day I will
repay you。〃
Charming thought it was very nice of the raven to say
so； and went on his way。
Before the sun rose he found himself in a thick wood
where it was too dark for him to see his path； and here
he heard an owl crying as if it were in despair。
〃Hark！〃 said he； 〃that must be an owl in great trouble；
I am sure it has gone into a snare〃； and he began to hunt
about； and presently found a great net which some bird…
catchers had spread the night before。
〃What a pity it is that men do nothing but torment and
persecute poor creatures which never do them any harm！〃
said he； and he took out his knife and cut the cords of the
net； and the owl flitted away into the darkness； but then
turning； with one flicker of her wings； she came back to
Charming and said：
〃It does not need many words to tell you how great a
service you have done me。 I was caught； in a few minutes
the fowlers would have been herewithout your help I
should have been killed。 I am grateful； and one day I
will repay you。〃
These three adventures were the only ones of any
consequence that befell Charming upon his journey； and he
made all the haste he could to reach the palace of the
Princess Goldilocks。
When he arrived he thought everything he saw delightful
and magnificent。 Diamonds were as plentiful as pebbles；
and the gold and silver； the beautiful dresses； the
sweetmeats and pretty things that were everywhere quite
amazed him； he thought to himself： 〃If the Princess
consents to leave all this； and come with me to marry the
King； he may think himself lucky！〃
Then he dressed himself car