l as a queen," they are
thinking of Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired.

THE SHEPHERD'S NOSEGAY

THE STORY OF A PRINCESS WHO LEARNED TO SAY "PLEASE"

[Illustration]

THE SHEPHERD'S NOSEGAY

There was once a king who had a beautiful daughter. When it was time for
her to get a husband, the king set a day and invited all the neighboring
princes to come and see her.

One of these princes decided that he would like to have a look at the
princess before the others. So he dressed himself in a shepherd's
costume: a broad-brimmed hat, a blue smock, a green vest, tight breeches
to the knees, thick woolen stockings, and sandals. Thus disguised he set
out for the kingdom where the princess lived. All he took with him were
four loaves of bread to eat on the way.

He hadn't gone far before he met a beggar who begged him, in God's
name, for a piece of bread. The prince at once gave him one of the
four loaves. A little farther on a second beggar held out his hand
and begged for a piece of bread. To him the prince gave the second
loaf. To a third beggar he gave the third loaf, and to a fourth
beggar the last loaf.

The fourth beggar said to him:

"Prince in shepherd's guise, your charity will not go unrewarded. Here
are four gifts for you, one for each of the loaves of bread that you
have given away this day. Take this whip which has the power of killing
any one it strikes however gentle the blow. Take this beggar's wallet.
It has in it some bread and cheese, but not common bread and cheese for,
no matter how much of it you eat, there will always be some left. Take
this shepherd's ax. If ever you have to leave your sheep alone, plant it
in the earth and the sheep, instead of straying, will graze around it.
Last, here is a shepherd's pipe. When you blow upon it your sheep will
dance and play. Farewell and good luck go with you."

The prince thanked the beggar for his gifts and then trudged on to the
kingdom where the beautiful princess lived. He presented himself at the
palace as a shepherd in quest of work and he told them his name was Yan.
The king liked his appearance and so the next day he was put in charge
of a flock of sheep which he drove up the mountain side to pasture.

He planted his shepherd's ax in the midst of a meadow and, leaving his
sheep to graze about it, he went off into the forest hunting adventures.
There he came upon a castle where a giant was busy cooking his dinner in
a big saucepan.

"Go