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from her father's。 Wicked nobles murdered
the king of the country and stole his throne；
and would have murdered the young prince；
too； if he had not escaped； dressed in peasant's
clothes。
Dressed in his poor rags； the prince wandered
about a long time； till one day he got into a
great wood； and lost his way。 It was the wood
where the Princess Daylight lived； but of course
he did not know anything about that nor about
her。 He wandered till night； and then he came
to a queer little house。 One of the good fairies
lived there； and the minute she saw him she
knew all about everything； but to him she
looked only like a kind old woman。 She gave
him a good supper and a bed for the night； and
told him to come back to her if he found no
better place for the next night。 But the prince
said he must get out of the wood at once； so in
the morning he took leave of the fairy。
All day long he walked； and walked； but at
nightfall he had not found his way out of the
wood； so he lay down to rest till the moon
should rise and light his path。
When he woke the moon was glorious； it
was three days from the full； and bright as
silver。 By its light he saw what he thought
to be the edge of the wood； and he hastened
toward it。 But when he came to it； it was
only an open space； surrounded with trees。 It
was so very lovely； in the white moonlight； that
the prince stood a minute to look。 And as he
looked； something white moved out of the trees
on the far side of the open space。 It was
something slim and white； that swayed in the dim
light like a young birch。
〃It must be a moon fairy；〃 thought the
prince； and he stepped into the shadow。
The moon fairy came nearer and nearer；
dancing and swaying in the moonlight。 And
as she came； she began to sing a soft； gay little
song。
But when she was quite close； the prince saw
that she was not a fairy after all； but a real
human maiden；the loveliest maiden he had
ever seen。 Her hair was like yellow corn； and
her smile made all the place merry。 Her white
gown fluttered as she danced； and her little
song sounded like a bird note。
The prince watched her till she danced out
of sight； and then until she once more came
toward him； and she seemed so like a moon…
beam herself； as she lifted her face to the sky；
that he was almost afraid to breathe。 He had
never seen anything so lovely。 By the time
she had danced twice round the circle； he could
think of nothing in the world except the hope
of finding out who she was； and staying near her。
But while he was waiting for her to appear
the third time； his weariness overcame him； and
he fell asleep。 And when he awoke； it was
broad day； and the beautiful maiden had
vanished。
He hunted about； hoping to find where she
lived； and on the other side of the glade he
came upon a lovely little house； covered with
moss and climbing roses。 He thought she
must live there； so he went round to the
kitchen door and asked the kind cook for a
drink of water； and while he was drinking it
he asked who lived there。 She told him it was
the house of the Princess Daylight； but she told
him nothing else about her； because she was not
allowed to talk about her mistress。 But she
gave him a very good meal and told him other
things。
He did not go back to the little old woman
who had been so kind to him first； but
wandered all day in the wood； waiting for the
moontime。 Again he waited at the edge of
the dell； and when the white moon was high
in the heavens； once more he saw the glimmering
in the distance； and once more the lovely
maiden floated toward him。 He knew her
name was the Princess Daylight； but this time
she seemed to him much lovelier than before。
She was all in blue like the blue of the sky
in summer。 （She really was more lovely； you
know； because the moon was almost at the
full。） All night he watched her； quite forgetting
that he ought not to be doing it； till she
disappeared on the opposite side of the glade。
Then； very tired； he found his way to the little
old woman's house； had breakfast with her； and
fell fast asleep in the bed she gave him。
The fairy knew well enough by his face that
he had seen Daylight； and when he woke up in
the evening and started off again she gave him
a strange little flask and told him to use it if
ever he needed it。
This night the princess did not appear in
the dell until midnight； at the very full of the
moon。 But when she came； she was so lovely
that she took the prince's breath away。 Just
think！she was dressed in a gown that looked
as if it were made of fireflies' wings； em…
broidered in gold。 She danced around and
around； singing； swaying； and flitting like a
beam of sunlight； till the prince grew quite
dazzled。
But while he had been watching her； he had
not noticed that the sky was growing dark
and the wind was rising。 Suddenly there was
a clap of thunder。 The princess danced on。
But another clap came louder； and then a
sudden great flash of lightning that lit up the
sky from end to end。 The prince couldn't help
shutting his eyes； but he opened them quickly
to see if Daylight was hurt。 Alas； she was
lying on the ground。 The prince ran to her；
but she was already up again。
〃Who are you？〃 she said。
〃I thought；〃 stammered the prince； 〃you
might be hurt。〃
〃There is nothing the matter。 Go away。〃
The prince went sadly。
〃Come back；〃 said the princess。 The prince
came。 〃I like you； you do as you are told。
Are you good？〃
〃Not so good as I should like to be；〃 said
the prince。
〃Then go and grow better；〃 said the princess。
The prince went； more sadly。
〃Come back；〃 said the princess。 The prince
came。 〃I think you must be a prince；〃 she
said。
〃Why？〃 said the prince。
〃Because you do as you are told； and you
tell the truth。 Will you tell me what the sun
looks like？〃
〃Why； everybody knows that；〃 said the
prince。
〃I am different from everybody；〃 said the
princess；〃I don't know。〃
〃But；〃 said the prince； 〃do you not look
when you wake up in the morning？〃
〃That's just it；〃 said the princess； 〃I never
do wake up in the morning。 I never can wake
up until〃 Then the princess remembered
that she was talking to a prince； and putting
her hands over her face she walked swiftly
away。 The prince followed her； but she turned
and put up her hand to tell him not to。 And
like the gentleman prince that he was； he
obeyed her at once。
Now all this time； the wicked swamp fairy
had not known a word about what was going
on。 But now she found out； and she was
furious； for fear that little Daylight should be
delivered from her spell。 So she cast her
spells to keep the prince from finding Daylight
again。 Night after night the poor prince
wandered and wandered； and never could