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Page 22
"There are a great many ways of giving gifts, little daughter. If I
provided her with clothes in a way to make her feel that I thought hers
were too mean to be worn in my house, and that I was ashamed to have a
guest of mine present such an appearance, that would naturally hurt her
pride; but I have thought of a way that I am sure will please her. If
you will call her up-stairs in a few minutes, I will show you. Where is
she now?"
"Readin' on the stair landin'. At least she was when I came up. She was
in the window-seat."
"Then wait until I take something into her room. I'll tell you when I am
ready, and you may call her up."
Lloyd hung over the banister in the upper hall until she heard a
whispered "Ready;" then she called: "Come up heah, Elizabeth, mothah
wants us a minute in yo' room."
Mrs. Sherman was sitting by an open window with some sewing in her lap,
when Lloyd and Betty skipped into the white and gold room. Betty had a
book in her hand with her finger between the closed pages, to keep the
place.
[Illustration: "BETTY BEGAN THE STORY."]
"Elizabeth," said Mrs. Sherman, "do you remember the story of the
enchanted necklace that was in a book of fairy tales I sent you once?"
"Oh, yes!" cried Betty. "That is one of my favourite stories. I have
read it twenty times, I am sure, and told it to Davy until he almost
knows it by heart."
"I wish you would tell it to Lloyd, please. She has never heard it, and
I want to illustrate it for her after awhile."
The little girl willingly dropped down into a big chair full of
cushions, and with her finger still marking the place in the book, Betty
began the story:
"Once upon a time, near a castle in a lonely wood, there lived an orphan
maiden named Olga. She would have been all alone in the world had it not
been for an old woman who befriended her. This woman was an old
flax-spinner, and lived in a humble thatched cottage near the castle.
She had taken pity on Olga when the little orphan was a helpless baby,
and so kind had she always been that Olga had grown to maidenhood
without feeling the lack of father, mother, brother, or sister. In all
ways the old flax spinner had taken their places.
"Every morning Olga carried water from the spring, gathered the wild
fruits of the woods, and spread the linen on the grass to bleach. This
she did to help the old woman, for she had a good and grateful heart as
well as a beautiful face.
"One day as Olga was wandering by the spring, searching for
watercresses, the young prince of the castle rode by on his prancing
charger. A snow-white plume waved in his hat, and a shining silver bugle
hung from his shoulder, for he had been following the chase.
"He was thirsty and tired, and asked for a drink, but there was no cup
from which to dip the water from the spring. But Olga caught the drops
as they bubbled out from the spring, holding it in the hollow of her
beautiful white hands, and, reaching up to where he sat, offered him the
sparkling water. So gracefully was it done that the prince was charmed
by her lovely face and modest manner, and, baring his head, when he had
slaked his thirst he touched the white hands with his lips.
"Before he rode away he asked her name and where she lived. The next day
a courier in scarlet and gold stopped at the door of the cottage and
invited Olga to the castle. Princesses and royal ladies from all over
the realm were to be entertained there, seven days and seven nights.
Every night a grand ball was to be given, and Olga was summoned to each
of the balls. It was on account of her pleasing manner and her great
beauty that she had been bidden.
"The old flax-spinner curtsied low to the courier and promised that Olga
should be at the castle without fail.
"'But, good dame,' cried Olga when the courier had gone, 'prithee tell
me why thou didst make such a promise, when thou knowest full well this
gown of tow is all I own? Wouldst have me stand before the prince in
beggar's garb? Better to bide at home for aye than be put to shame
before such guests.'
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