"I know
what I'd like the story to be about," she said, as she stirred the
delicious mixture with the new spoon. "Make up something about the big
gate across the road, with the scissors on it."
Cousin Kate crossed the room, and sat down by the window, where she
could look out and see the top of it.
"Let me think for a few minutes," she said. "I have been very much
interested in that old gate myself."
She thought so long that the candy was done before she was ready to tell
the story; but while it cooled in plates outside on the window-sill, she
drew Joyce to a seat beside her in the chimney-corner. With her feet on
the fender, and the child's head on her shoulder, she began this story,
and the firelight dancing on the walls, showed a smile on Joyce's
contented little face.
CHAPTER II.
A NEW FAIRY TALE.
Once upon a time, on a far island of the sea, there lived a King with
seven sons. The three eldest were tall and dark, with eyes like eagles,
and hair like a crow's wing for blackness, and no princes in all the
land were so strong and fearless as they. The three youngest sons were
tall and fair, with eyes as blue as cornflowers, and locks like the
summer sun for brightness, and no princes in all the land were so brave
and beautiful as they.
But the middle son was little and lorn; he was neither dark nor fair; he
was neither handsome nor strong.
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