In Story-Land Reading Day 13

PRINCE HARWEDA. 45

his father's kingdom where he could meet people and hear them talk and see them smile at each other , even if they should take no notice of him . One day soon after this the little bird fluttered up against the window pane and beat his wings against it in a vain effort to get out . A new idea seized the young Prince , and taking up one of the golden jars he went to the window and struck on one of its checkered panes of glass with all his force . 66 You shall be free , even if I can not , " said he to the bird . Two or three strong blows shivered the small pane and the bird swept out into the free open air beyond . " Ah , my pretty one , how glad I am that you are free at last , " exclaimed the prince as he stood watching the flight of his fellow - prisoner . His face was bright with the glad , unselfish joy over the bird's liberty . The small , pink marble palace shook from top to bottom , the iron door flew open and the fresh wind from the sea rushed in and seemed to catch the boy in its invisible arms . Prince Harweda could hardly believe his eyes as he sprang to the door . There stood his fairy god - mother , smiling and with her hand reached out toward him . Come , my god- child , " said she gently , " we shall now go back to your father and mother , the King

and Queen , and they will rejoice with us that you have been cured of your terrible disease of selfishness . "

Great indeed was the rejoicing in the palace when Prince Harweda was returned to them a sweet, loving boy , kind and thoughtful to all about him. Many a struggle he had with himself and many a conquest over the old habit of selfishness , but as time passed by he grew to be a great and wise king , loving and tenderly caring for all his people and loved by them in return .

THE LITTLE GRAY GRANDMOTHER ; OR, THE ENCHANTED MIRROR.

Nobody knew whence she came or whither she went . All that any one of the children could have told you about her , was that oftentimes they looked up from their play and there she stood , in her soft misty gray gown , and still softer , long , gray cloak and shadowy gray veil which always reminded them of thin smoke . Sometimes her face could scarcely be seen behind this mysterious veil , and sometimes it shone quite clear and distinct . This was always the case when any one of them had done some unselfish or brave act and thought no one knew it . And yet , if happy with the thought , he or she chanced to look up , there would be the Little Gray Grandmother , her face fairly shining with the glad smile of approval . Then suddenly she would disappear and they would not hear of her for days and days .

There was a large family of them , and they (47 )

had sharp eyes too , but none of them ever saw her coming until , as I said before , there she stood in the midst of them. They lived near the great sea , and its mist often covered the coast for miles and miles so that nothing but the dim outline of objects could be seen . Therefore , their city cousins had fallen into the way of laughing at them and saying the Little Gray Grandmother was only a bit of the sea fog left behind after a damp day , but they knew better .

Although she had never spoken to them , had she not smiled at them , and sometimes looked sad when she came upon them suddenly and found any one of them doing a mean or greedy deed , and ah , how stern her eyes were the day she found Wilhelm telling a lie ! Nobody could make them believe that she was only a dream which came from a bit of sea fog ! Then , too , had she not left that thimble for Mai which was no sooner placed on her thimble - finger than it began to push the needle so fast that a seam a yard long would be finished before you could say , " Jack Robinson ," unless you had practiced saying it very often .

Who else was it that brought those tall leather boots for Gregory which helped him