thought all the world was mad, but still he never thought of there being
anything queer about his own nose. At last the old fairy, who, though
she was a chatterbox, was very good-natured; saw that he was almost
breaking his heart. She felt sorry for him and wished to help him in
spite of himself, for she knew the enchantment which hid from him the
Princess Darling could never be broken till he had discovered his own
defect. So she went in search of the princess, and being more powerful
than the magician, since she was a good fairy and he was an evil
magician, she got her away from him and shut her up in a palace of
crystal, which she placed on the road which Prince Wish had to pass.

He was riding along, very melancholy, when he saw the palace; and at its
entrance was a room, made of the purest glass, in which sat his beloved
princess, smiling and beautiful as ever. He leaped from his horse and
ran toward her. She held out her hand for him to kiss, but he could
not get at it for the glass. Transported with eagerness and delight, he
dashed his sword through the crystal and succeeded in breaking a small
opening, to which she put up her beautiful rosy mouth. But it was in
vain; Prince Wish could not approach it. He twisted his neck about, and
turned his head on all sides, till at length, putting up his hand to his
face, he discovered the impediment.

"It must be confessed," exclaimed he, "that my nose is too long."

That moment the glass walls all split asunder, and the old fairy
appeared, leading Princess Darling.

"Avow, prince," said she, "that you are very much obliged to me, for now
the enchantment is ended. You may marry the object of your choice. But,"
added she, smiling, "I fear I might have talked to you forever on the
subject of your nose, and you would not have believed me in its length,
till it became an obstacle to your own inclinations. Now behold it!" and
she held up a crystal mirror. "Are you satisfied to be no different from
other people?"

"Perfectly," said Prince Wish, who found his nose had shrunk to an
ordinary length. And taking the Princess Darling by the hand, he kissed
her courteously, affectionately, and satisfactorily. Then they departed
to their own country, and lived very happily all their days.

THE FROG-PRINCE

IN times of yore, when wishes were both heard and granted, lived a king
whose daughters were all beautiful but the youngest was so lovely that
the sun himself, who has s