from some mountain."

"But why did they make me, thine own daughter, suffer for this?" wept
forth Maerchen. "Ah, if thou knewest how they have acted towards me!
They called me an old maid, and threatened the next time not to admit
me!"

"How, my daughter?--not to admit thee more?" asked the Queen, as
anger heightened the color on her cheeks. "But already I see whence
this comes; that wicked cousin has slandered us!"

"Fashion? Impossible!" exclaimed Maerchen; "she always used to act so
friendly towards us."

"Oh, I know her, the false one!" answered the Queen. "But try it again
in spite of her, my daughter: whoever wishes to do good, must not
rest."

"Ah, mother! suppose, then, they send me back again, or slander me so
that men let me stay in a corner, disregarded, or alone and slighted!"

"If the old, deluded by Fashion, value thee at nothing, then turn thee
to the young; truly they are my little favorites. I send to them my
loveliest pictures through thy brothers, the Dreams; yes, already I
have often hovered over them in person, caressed and kissed them, and
played fine games with them. They, also, know me well, though not by
name; for I have often observed how in the night they laugh at my
stars, and in the morning, when my shining fleeces play over the
heavens, how they clap their hands for joy. Moreover, when they grow
larger, they love me still; then I help the charming maids to weave
variegated garlands, and the wild boys to become still, while I seat
myself near them, on the lofty summit of a cliff, steep lofty cities
and brilliant palaces in the mist-world of the blue mountains in the
distance, and, on the red-tinged clouds of evening, paint brave troops
of horsemen, and strange pilgrim processions."

"Oh, the dear children!" exclaimed Maerchen, deeply affected. "Yes--be
it so! with them I will make one more trial."

"Yes, my good child," answered the Queen; "go unto them; but I will
attire thee in fine style, that thou mayest please the little ones,
and that the old may not drive thee away. See! the dress of an
Almanach[B] will I give thee."

"An Almanach, mother? Ah!--I will be ashamed to parade, in such a way,
before the people."

The Queen gave the signal, and the attendants brought in the rich
dress of an Almanach. It was inwrought with brilliant colors, and
beautiful figures. The waiting-maids plaited the long hair of the fair
girl, bound golden sandals on her feet, and arrayed her in the