d delicate, came from beneath the black
and dirty skin. The ring slipped on with the utmost ease, and, as it did
so, the skin fell to the ground, disclosing a figure of such beauty that
the prince, weak as he was, fell on his knees before her, while the king
and queen joined their prayers to his. Indeed, their welcome was so
warm, and their caresses so bewildering, that the princess hardly knew
how to find words to reply, when the ceiling of the hall opened, and the
fairy godmother appeared, seated in a car made entirely of white lilac.
In a few words she explained the history of the princess, and how she
came to be there, and, without losing a moment, preparations of the most
magnificent kind were made for the wedding.

[Illustration: The Donkey-skin falls off.]

The kings of every country in the earth were invited, including, of
course, the princess's adopted father (who by this time had married a
widow), and not one refused.

But what a strange assembly it was! Each monarch travelled in the way he
thought most impressive; and some came borne in litters, others had
carriages of every shape and kind, while the rest were mounted on
elephants, tigers, and even upon eagles. So splendid a wedding had never
been seen before; and when it was over the king announced that it was to
be followed by a coronation, for he and the queen were tired of
reigning, and the young couple must take their place. The rejoicings
lasted for three whole months, then the new sovereigns settled down to
govern their kingdom, and made themselves so much beloved by their
subjects, that when they died, a hundred years later, each man mourned
them as his own father and mother.

[From _Le Cabinet des Fees_.]

_THE GOBLIN PONY_

'Don't stir from the fireplace to-night,' said old Peggy, 'for the wind
is blowing so violently that the house shakes; besides, this is
Hallow-e'en, when the witches are abroad, and the goblins, who are their
servants, are wandering about in all sorts of disguises, doing harm to
the children of men.'

'Why should I stay here?' said the eldest of the young people. 'No, I
must go and see what the daughter of old Jacob, the rope-maker, is
doing. She wouldn't close her blue eyes all night if I didn't visit her
father before the moon had gone down.'

'I must go and catch lobsters and crabs,' said the second, 'and not all
the witches and goblins in the world shall hinder me.'

So they all determined to go on thei