BEAUTY what had been recovered from the sea.. Accord-
AND THE ingly, he bade his daughters farewell, and he did
BEA so in a hopeful spirit, for he believed he would get
back enough to make their life more comfortable.
Before leaving, he asked his daughters what they
would desire him to bring for them on his return,
as a little token that he remembered them.
The eldest asked for a diamond necklace. The
second wished for a whole suite of pearls. The
youngest said, ‘Dear father, bring me a white
rose.’
So the father kissed all his daughters, and de-
parted. Hewas successful; and had recovered so
much of his property that he hoped to reopen his
business, and in time recover all that was lost.
When he prepared to return home, he remem-
bered the requests of his daughters, and bought
diamonds for the eldest and pearls for the second ;
but he sought everywhere in vain for a white rose.
This distressed him greatly, as his youngest
daughter was his favourite child.
Now, as he was on his way home, he lost his way
in a wood. Night was closing in, and as the
merchant was aware that there were wolves,
bears, and wild boars in that country, he was very
anxious to find a shelter for the night.
Presently he perceived in the distance a twinkling
light, and he urged his horse in that direction.
But, to his surprise, instead of coming to a wood-
man’s hut, he found himself in front of a magnifi-
cent castle, to which led a stately avenue, com-
posed of orange and lemon-trees hung with fruit.
He did not hesitate to pass down this avenue, and, -
at the end, he came to the steps leading to the
front gate, and through the open door shone the
light that had attracted him.
He entered, having first knocked at the door, and
looked round him expecting to see servants. But
no one Feaponacs to his knock, and the hall was
2