Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/26

18 going to be married to-day; the wedding feast is ready and the guests are beginning to assemble."

The princess wept, but after awhile dried her tears, dressed herself in frieze, and went into the town like a village girl. She came to the royal kitchen; there, there was great noise and bustle. She went up to the clerk of the kitchen with humble and attractive grace, and said in a sweet voice—"Dear sir, do me one favour; allow me to make a wedding-cake for Prince Unexpected." Occupied with work, the first impulse of the clerk of the kitchen was to give the girl a rebuff, but when he looked at her the words died on his lips and he answered kindly—"Ah, my beauty of beauties! do what you will; I will hand the prince your cake myself." The cake was soon baked, and all the invited guests were sitting at table. The clerk of the kitchen himself placed a huge cake on a silver dish before the prince; but scarce had the prince made a cut in the side of it when lo! an unheard-of marvel displayed itself in presence of all. A grey tom-pigeon and a white hen-pigeon came out of the cake; the tom-pigeon walked along the table, and the hen-pigeon walked after him, cooing:—

Scarcely had Prince Unexpected heard this cooing of the pigeon, when he regained his lost recollection, bounced from the table, rushed to the door, and behind the door the princess, Bony's daughter, took him by the hand; they went together down the corridor, and before them stood a horse saddled and bridled.

Why delay? Prince Unexpected and the princess, Bony's daughter, sprang on the horse, started on the road, and at last arrived happily in the realm of Prince Unexpected's father. The king and queen received them with joy and merriment, and didn't wait long before they prepared them a magnificent wedding, the like of which eye never saw and ear never heard of. .