My Book Of Favourite Fairy Tales

CONTENTS

THE OLD, OLD STORIES

THE GOOSE GIRL

LITTLE SNOW-WHITE

CINDERELLA

PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

THE WHITE FAWN

HANSEL AND GRETHEL

SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

PRINCE CHÉRI

THE WHITE CAT

BLUEBEARD

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

TUFTY RIQUET

THUMBLING

[Illustration: From "THE WHITE FAWN"]




LIST OF COLOUR PLATES

THE GOOSE GIRL _Frontispiece_

THE MAGIC MIRROR

CINDERELLA

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

THE WHITE FAWN

HANSEL AND GRETHEL

SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

ZÉLIE AND THE FAIRY CANDIDE

BLUEBEARD

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS

[Illustration: From "PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR"]

[Illustration: From "CINDERELLA"]




THE OLD, OLD STORIES


Here they are again, the old, old stories, the very best; dear
Cinderella, wicked old Bluebeard, tiny Thumbling, beautiful Beauty and
the ugly Beast, and a host of others. But the old stories, I may tell
you, are always new, and always must be so, because there are new
children to read them every day, and to these, of course, these old
tales might have been written yesterday.

But the stories in this book are new in another way. Look how they are
clothed, look at their beautiful setting, the wonderful pictures! Have
you ever seen such charming princes and lovely princesses, such dainty
grace and delicate feeling?

What would our grandfathers and grandmothers have said of such a book!
They would have thought there was magic in the brush and pencil.

Surely we are favoured in this generation when we see before us, the
old, old fairy tales, which are ever new, dressed in such a beautiful
and splendid fashion!

_EDRIC VREDENBURG._

[Illustration: From "HANSEL AND GRETHEL"]




[Illustration]

THE GOOSE GIRL


An old queen, whose husband had been dead some years, had a beautiful
daughter. When she grew up, she was betrothed to a prince who lived
a great way off; and as the time drew near for her to be married, she
got ready to set off on her journey to his country. Then the queen,
her mother, packed up a great many costly things--jewels, and gold,
and silver; trinkets, fine dresses, and, in short, everything that
became a royal bride; for she loved her child very dearly: and she
gave her a waiting-maid to ride with her, and give her into the
bridegroom's hands; and each had a horse for the journey. Now the
princess's horse was called Falada, and could speak.