Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/24



HERE was once a king who lived far, far away in a country the name of which no one knows. He had an only daughter, who was of so sad and melancholy a disposition that no one remembered having ever seen her smile. She was now a grown girl, pretty and good, but always sorrowful and downcast; if she did not weep she was melancholy, and showed such low spirits that it seemed utterly impossible for any one to cheer or to gladden her.

The king was of a very amiable disposition, and indeed a very able man to manage his country; but the condition of his daughter caused him such deep distress and anxiety that he became gloomy and was out of humor. He had only this one child, and she would, of course, inherit the kingdom when he died. She looked so downcast, however, that he feared she might suffer an early and untimely death.

The king consequently made known throughout the land that he who could win a smile from the princess would be honored with her hand in