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Craik, Dinah Maria Mulock, 1826-1887

"The Fairy Book The Best Popular Stories Selected and Rendered Anew"


As for King Charming and Queen Florina, delivered out of all their
sorrows, and given to one another, their joy was quite inexpressible,
and it lasted to the end of their lives.
_Note._--It will be seen that this tale, which is from the
French, bears a curious resemblance to Grimm's story of "The
Iron Stove," except that the latter retains a brevity and
German simplicity, not found here. This family likeness may
be traced in the fairy tales of all countries. I merely
refer to it to show that the repetition of incidents was not
unobserved or unintentional.--EDITOR.


THE YELLOW DWARF.

There was once a queen, who had been the mother of several children,
but all were dead, except one daughter, of whom she was excessively
fond, humouring and indulging her in all her ways and wishes. This
princess was so extremely beautiful, that she was called All-Fair, and
twenty kings were, at one time, paying their addresses to her. She had
so many lovers, indeed, that she did not know which to choose, and
refused them all. Her mother, being advanced in years, was anxious to
see her married and settled before she died; but as no entreaties
could prevail, she determined to go to the Desert Fairy to ask advice
concerning her stubborn daughter.
Now, this fairy being guarded by two fierce lions, the queen made a
cake of millet, sugar-candy, and crocodiles' eggs, in order to appease
their fury, and pass by them; and having thus provided herself, she
set out.


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