Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/340

324 of this wonderful bush, and of the beautiful Princess Marie, who had planted it. So he went to the palace and saw the wicked queen, who at once asked him what he wanted.

The prince put a silver plate on the table, and said: "Whichever of the four damsels fills this plate full of the delicious fruit from the wonderful bush, shall be my wife." Now the cunning young prince well knew that no one but the fair Princess Marie could gather the fruit from that bush, for the singing birds would allow no one else to approach.

The queen sent her eldest daughter, One-Eye, to the bush to pluck the fruit; but the birds would not let her come near it, so she had to return without any, being afraid of losing her only eye! The step-mother then sent her two younger daughters; but they were just as unfortunate as their sister, the birds would not even let them have fruit of any kind.

There was nothing for it; the step-mother had at last to send Princess Marie for the fruit. The princess took the silver plate and went to the bush; she commenced gathering the delicious fruit, and all the little birds began helping her to fill up the plate. When it was quite full, she returned to the palace and gave it to the prince, who was delighted, and at once asked her to become his wife. Princess Marie made no objection, so the wedding feast was got ready, and everybody was happy, even the step-mother.

Prince Ivan, and his wife Princess Marie, lived in peace and plenty all their lives.