Page:Story of the little white mouse, or, The overthrow of the tyrant king (1).pdf/15

15 unable to procure any intelligence of the infant, though the little white mouse made every exertion in her power for that purpose.

At length, by the progress of time, the queens grief abated, and fifteen years passed away without any change in her situation.---At this period there was great talk all over the kingdom, that the son of the wicked monarch had fallen in love with the keeper of the poultry, and that the young woman refused to accept of him for a husband. This extraordinary refusal surprised every one; however, the nuptial dresses were prepared, and the marriage ceremony was soon expected to take place. The little white mouse determined to see this extraordinary damsel, who had resolution enough to refuse the son of a king, and immediately transported herself to the capital. She entered into the poultry-yard, and found her there, dressed in a coarse woollen gown, with her feet bare, and a cap of goat's skin on her head; lying by her side were magnificent dresses, embroidered with gold and silver, and ornamented with a number of precious stones; the turkeys and other fowls that surrounded her trampled on and spoiled them.

Thus habited, and thus careless of the splendour that awaited her, the keeper of the poultry sat on a large stone in the middle of