WASSA RETURNS TO FAIRYLAND. I49

“ Sire, the young prince was hard at play,
And did not wish to come this way.”

And all this time the naughty child
Filled the air with screams so wild.

«Prince, said the king, “listen to me;
Wassa has come thy nurse to be.
Her duty is to wait on thee,
And to thy whims she must agree.”

Then turning to the maid he said,
_“Go, put the prince at once to bed.”

Not daring to disobey the king, Wassa went
toward the prince and attempted to take him
from the arms of the gnome, but the instant
she put out her arms to take him, the prince
gave vent to terrific howls, and kicked and
struggled harder than ever.

“Thou horrid nurse, now go away !
I will not go with thee, I say!”

screamed the naughty prince.

Wassa looked toward the king, expecting
him to interfere and compel his little son to do
as he desired, but, to her surprise, he seemed
well pleased with the prince’s behavior, and
laughed until his double chin shook.

“Tet him, Wassa, have his way,
Thou must never say him nay,”