course, afford to neglect Andersen's own _The
Story of My Life_. Among the more elaborate
biographies the _Life of Hans Christian
Andersen_ by R. Nisbet Bain is probably the
best. The first translation of the _Tales_ into
English was made by Mary Howitt in 1846 and, as
far as it goes, is still regarded as one of the
finest. However, Andersen has been very
fortunate in his many translators. The version
by H. W. Dulcken has been published in many
cheap forms and perhaps more widely read than
any other. In addition to the stories in the
following pages, some of those most suitable
for use are "The Little Match Girl," "The
Silver Shilling," "Five Peas in the Pod," "Hans
Clodhopper," and "The Snow Queen." The latter
is one of the longest and an undoubted
masterpiece.

The first two stories following are taken from
Mrs. Henderson's _Andersen's Best Fairy Tales_.
(Copyright. Rand McNally & Co.) This little
book contains thirteen stories in a very simple
translation and also an excellent story of
Andersen's life in a form most attractive to
children. "The Princess and the Pea" is a story
for the story's sake. The humor, perhaps
slightly satirical, is based upon the notion so
common in the old folk tales that royal
personages are decidedly more delicate than the
person of low degree. However, the tendency to
think oneself of more consequence than another
is not confined to any one class.

THE REAL PRINCESS

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

(Version by Alice Corbin Henderson)

There was once a Prince who wanted to marry a Princess. But it was only
a _real_ Princess that he wanted to marry.

He traveled all over the world to find a real one. But, although there
were plenty of princesses, whether they were _real_ princesses he could
never discover. There was always something that did not seem quite right
about them.

At last he had to come home again. But he was very sad, because he
wanted to marry a _real_ Princess.

One night there was a terrible storm. It thundered and lightened and the
rain poured down in torrents. In the middle of the storm there came a
knocking, knocking, knocking at the castle gate. The kind old King
himself went down to open the castle gate.