Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ... audacious strangers had carried her off. Everybody about the Court was therefore overjoyed to see her return; and, as she was herself in excellent spirits at the promises which had just been made to her, her conversation was so brilliant and agreeable, that she charmed more than ever. In due time, the Queen became the mother of a Princess, who was christened Welcome; then taking the bouquet that had been given to her, she repeated the names of the flowers one by one, and the six Fairies immediately arrived . They came in chariots, each constructed in a different style and of different materials; one was of ebony, drawn by white pigeons; another of ivory, drawn by small ravens; the rest of cedar, and other valuable woods. The Fairies now proceeded to endow the child. One gifted her with virtue, another with wit, the third with more than mortal beauty, the fourth with good fortune; the fifth promised her a long and healthy life, and the last that she should do well whatever she attempted. The overjoyed Queen was expressing her thanks for the favours which the Fairies so liberally showered on her infant Princess, when an old woman, with a furious visage, entered the room. This was a Fairy who had taken affront at some real or imaginary offence that the King and Queen had committed against her many years before, and who now came determined to inflict some illfortune upon the young Princess, and to thwart the benevolent designs of the others. They, knowing that their offended sister meant to endow Welcome with some misfortune, seconded the Queen's endeavours to soften her. "Permit us," they said, "to entreat you not to be angry with a Queen who never intentionally offended you; pray lay aside this frightful figure, that we may see you again...