rode her father and mother, and the Queen’s face was most mournful, and her eyes were red with crying. On the other rode an ugly old man, whom Michael guessed to be King Lambert, and he smiled and bowed to the people, but they muttered and grumbled, when they looked at him, and saw how ugly and wicked, he looked.
When Michael saw them coming, he took from his bosom the little pink heart, and stroked it fondly as he whispered over it,
“Heart of Joan
Lost and won
Fly back home,
Thy journey’s done.
Take back joy
Take back pain
Heart of Joan,
Fly home again;”
and at once it spread its wings and fluttered through the bars of the prison, and over the heads of the people, who shouted, “Look at the pink bird!” For a moment it rested at the side of the Princess Joan, and then disappeared. She gave a scream, and cried,
“My mother! My father! What has happened? Oh see, it is Michael who has returned!” and ere they could stop her she had turned her palfrey’s head towards the prison window, and pushed her white arms through the bars to clasp the Prince.
“Michael, my love!” she cried, “How gray and worn you are now. How hard you must have laboured for me through these long years. Now, how shall I pay you, save by loving you all my life!” and she tried to beat down the bars of the prison window.
When the people heard her, they cried, “It is Prince Michael, who went seven years ago, and who we all thought was dead, and he is returned in time to marry our Princess. Now will we indeed have a wedding, and she shall marry the Prince who has toiled so long for her;” and King and Queen and people laughed for joy. ’Twas in vain for King Lambert to rage, and cry that the Princess was betrothed to him.
“Nay!” said the Queen, “She has been pledged to Prince Michael for seven years. We are grieved for your sake, King Lambert, but we cannot break our royal word.”
Then the people burst into the prison and brought out Michael, all torn and gray as he was, and Princess Joan kissed him before them all, and begged that he would marry her at once, that everyone might see how well she loved him and how grateful she was. So they brought a fine white horse with a grand gold saddle, and jewelled bridle, and placed Michael upon it, and he rode to church beside the Princess, and married her, and the people threw flowers before them, and bells rang and trumpets sounded, and all were glad.
And when it was done Michael was dressed in purple and gold, and messengers were sent to his father and mother and the old wizard, that they might come and see how he had come home victorious, and rejoicings filled the whole country.
“For now we are sure of a good King,” the people said. “See, he has already shown what he can do. Surely no one else could ever have found the heart of Princess Joan.”
The Pedlar’s Pack
A pedlar was toiling along a dusty road carrying his pack on his back, when he saw a donkey grazing by the wayside.
“Good day, friend,” said he. “If you have nothing to do, perhaps you would not mind carrying my load for me for a little.”
“If I do so, what will you give me?” said the donkey.
“I will give you two pieces of gold,” said the pedlar, but he did not speak the truth, for he knew he had no gold to give.
“Agreed,” said the donkey. So they journeyed on together in a very friendly manner, the donkey carrying the pedlar’s pack, and the pedlar walking by his side. After a time they met a raven, who was looking for worms in the roadside, and the donkey called out to him,
“Good-morrow, black friend. If you are going our way, you would do well to sit upon my back and drive away the flies, which worry me sadly.”
“And what will you pay me to do this?” asked the raven.
“Money is no object to me,” said the donkey, “so I will give you three pieces of gold.” And he too knew he was making a false promise, for he had no gold at all to give.
“Agreed,” said the raven. So they went on in high good humour, the donkey carrying the pedlar’s wares, and the raven sitting on the donkey’s back driving away the flies.
After a time they met a hedge-sparrow, and the raven called out to it,
“Good day, little cousin. Do you want to earn a little money? If so, bring me some worms from the bank as we go along, for I had no breakfast, and am very hungry.”
“What will you give me for it?” asked the hedge-sparrow.
“Let us say four pieces of gold,” said the raven grandly; “for I have saved more during my long life than I know how to spend.” But he knew this was not true, for he had not saved any gold at all.
“Very well,” said the hedge-sparrow, and so on they went, the donkey carrying the pedlar’s pack, and the raven keeping the flies away from the donkey, and the hedge-sparrow bringing worms to the raven.
Presently they saw in the distance a good-sized town, and the pedlar took out from his pack, some shawls and stuffs and hung them over the donkey’s back that the passersby might see, and buy if they were so disposed. On the top of the other goods lay a small scarlet blanket, and when he saw it the hedge-sparrow said to the pedlar,
“What will you take for that little blanket? It seems to be a good one. Name your price and you shall have it whatever it is, for I am badly in want of a blanket just now;” but as the hedge-sparrow had not a penny in the world, he knew he could not pay for
