They did not know his name, they did not know that he
was Prince Ethelried, but they knew by his valor that there was royal
blood in his veins. So they all cried out long and loud: "_Long live the
Prince! Prince Ciseaux!_"
Then the King stepped down from his throne and took off his crown to
give to the conqueror, but Ethelried put it aside.
"Nay," he said. "The only kingdom that I crave is the kingdom of a
loving heart and a happy fireside. Keep all but the Princess."
So the Ogre was killed, and the Prince came into his kingdom that was
his heart's desire. He married the Princess, and there was feasting and
merrymaking for seventy days and seventy nights, and they all lived
happily ever after.
When the feasting was over, and the guests had all gone to their homes,
the Prince pulled down the house of the Ogre and built a new one. On
every gable he fastened a pair of shining scissors to remind himself
that only through unselfish service to others comes the happiness that
is highest and best.
Over the great entrance gate he hung the ones that had served him so
valiantly, saying, "Only those who belong to the kingdom of loving
hearts and happy homes can ever enter here."
One day the old King, with the brothers of Ethelried (the three that
were dark and the three that were fair), came riding up to the portal.
Pages:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35