eds that grew outside, she had
servants to wait on her, and grant her every wish, as if she were a
queen.

She was dearer to her father and mother than all else that they
possessed; and there was no happier king or queen or little maiden in
any kingdom of the world, till one sad day when the king's enemies came
upon them like a whirlwind, and changed their joy to sorrow.

Their palace was seized, the servants were scattered, and the king and
queen were carried away to a dark prison-house, where they sat and wept
for their little daughter, for they knew not where she was.

No one knew but the old nurse, who had nursed the king himself. She had
carried the child away, unnoticed amid the noise and strife, and set her
in safety outside the palace walls.

"Fly, precious one!" she cried, as she left her there. "Fly! for the
enemy is upon us!" And the little maiden started out in the world alone.

She knew not where to go; so she wandered away through the fields and
waste places, where nobody lived and only the grasshoppers seemed glad.
But she was not afraid,--no! not even when she came to a great forest,
at evening;--for she carried her light with her.

'T is true that once she thought she saw a threatening giant waiting by
the dusky path; but, when her light shone on it, it was only a pine
tree, stretching out its friendly arms; and she laughed so merrily that
all the woods laughed too.

"Who are you? Who are you?" asked an owl, blinking his eyes at the
brightness of her face; and a little rabbit, startled by the sound,
sprang from its hiding place in the bushes and fell trembling at her
feet.

"Alas!" it panted as she bent in pity to offer help, "Alas! the hunters
with their dogs and guns pursue me! But you flee, too! How can you help
me?" But the child took the tiny creature in her arms and held it close;
and when the dogs rushed through the tanglewood, they saw the light that
lighted up her eyes like sunshine and gleamed on her forehead like a
star, and came no further.

Then deeper into the great forest she went, bearing the rabbit still;
and the wild beasts heard her footsteps, and waited for her coming.

"Hush!" said the fox, "she is mine; for I will lead her from the path
into the tanglewood!"

"Nay, she is mine!" howled the wolf; "for I will follow on her
footsteps!"

"Mine! mine!" screamed the tiger; "for I will spring upon her in the
darkness, and she cannot escape me!"

[Illustration: The child t