other maiden than the daughter of the cattle-keeper of that village. Father, mother, and all the courtiers endeavoured to dissuade him from this course, saying, that for him, who could choose a partner from among imperial and royal princesses, to take the daughter of a herdsman for his wife would be a shame and a disgrace. But all in vain; the prince only replied,

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Either this maiden or none!”

When they all saw that nothing else was to be done, one of the councillors was sent to the cattle-herd to tell him that the king had chosen his daughter to become the wife of his own son. The councillor made his way to the herd, and told him of the king's decision; but the village cattle-keeper demanded of him, "What handicraft does the king's son understand?"

Upon which the messenger, disgusted, made answer,"Heaven be with you, oh man! What should a prince know of a handicraft? People only learn handicrafts to support themselves by; but the king's son possesses countries and cities."

But the cattle-herd simply replied,

"That may be; but unless he understands some handicraft I cannot give him my daughter."

Then went the councillor home again and told the king what the cattle-keeper had said; at which the whole court was perfectly astonished. People had

believed that it would have been the herd's greatest joy and pride that the king's son should take his daughter to wife, and here he was asking what trade the prince understood! The king sent a second councillor; but the cattle-herd made him the same answer :

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So long as the king's son has not learnt a handicraft, and cannot bring to me some of his own work as a proof of his knowledge, he and I can never become closer friends."

When this councillor also returned and informed the king that the cattle-herd was not willing to give his daughter to the prince until he had learnt some handicraft, however simple it might be, the prince went himself forth to find out among the different workshops what trade would be the easiest to learn. As he went from shop to shop, and saw what the various masters worked at, he came upon one where work-people were busy plaiting rush-mats; and as that appeared to him to be the lightest of all handicrafts, he set about to learn it at once. And when in a few days he had learnt to work he plaited a rush-mat all by himself, which a messenger took to the cattle-herd and explained that the prince had already learnt a handicraft, and that the rush-mat was a piece of his own work.

The cattle-herd took the mat in his hand, and looking at it on all sides, demanded,

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "Good! Four paras to-day, four to-morrow, that makes eight, and four the day after to-morrow, that makes twelve, and so on. If I had understood this handicraft, I should not be tending cattle this day."

Then he told them who and what he was, and how he hal come there. They were all delighted when they learnt that they had been wooing the daughter of a king and not of a cattle-herd; and the marriage of the youth and the maiden took place amid the greatest rejoicings. Then they gave to the father of the bride a ship and a guard of warriors, and he went over the sea and reached his own kingdom.

* A small Turkish coin, worth something less than a farthing.

IVAN KRUCHINA.

(FROM THE RUSSIAN.)

KRUCHINA Was a wealthy merchant, and had a son who was called Ivanushka.* The mother of Ivanushka died, and the merchant Kruchina married a second wife. Ivanushka was sent to a day-school; he used to remain there all day, and return home in the evening. During holidays the boy stayed at home and amused himself as he best could.

Business compelled the merchant to travel into foreign countries. The second wife was young, the merchant old and grey-haired. As soon as the merchant had left home visitors began to arrive, who sat down at table, ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves.

"Mother, who are these people?" asked Ivanushka. "They are all my relations," answered the stepmother.

* Little John-Johnny.

"Very good," whispered Ivanushka softly to himself. 'As soon as father comes home I will tell him all about this."

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The merchant's wife had a favourite housekeeper, who knew how to get at other people's secrets. Having overheard what Ivanushka had said, she told her mistress of it.

In the merchant's stable was a stray foal, and Ivanushka attended to it: he used to feed it, lead it to water, and clean it. The foal grew up, and became in time a fine, strong horse; he could neigh in various voices, speak like a man, and understood what was said to him. One day, Ivanushka, returning home from school, and passing by the stable, observed that the horse, full of trouble, stood with his head hanging down and his ears drooping.

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Why are you so sad?" asked Ivanushka. "Is there mischief brewing for you or for me?

"I am sorry on your account-not my own," answered the horse. "Your stepmother means to poison you with some wine. Take care you don't drink it, but pour

it away."

Ivanushka went in. His stepmother asked him to take a glass of wine, but he declined; she then began to press him so strongly that he could not possibly refuse her. He took up the glass, approached a win