Old French Fairy Tales [Includes Original Illustrations and ATOC]

Old French Fairy Tales by Sophie de Ségur, with beautiful Illustrations by Virginia Frances Sterrett.

THE STORIES:

BLONDINE, BONNE-BICHE, AND BEAU-MINON
Blondine
Blondine Lost
The Forest of Lilacs
Blondine's Awakening—Beau-Minon
Bonne-Biche
Blondine's Second Awakening
The Parrot
Repentance
The Tortoise
The Journey and Arrival

GOOD LITTLE HENRY
The Poor Sick Mother
The Crow, the Cock, and the Frog
The Harvest
The Vintage
The Chase
The Fishing
The Plant of Life

PRINCESS ROSETTE
The Farm
Rosette at the Court of the King Her Father
Family Council
Second Day of the Festival
Third and Last Day of the Festival

THE LITTLE GREY MOUSE
The Little House
The Fairy Detestable
The Prince Gracious
The Tree in the Rotunda
The Casket

OURSON
The Lark and the Toad
Birth and Infancy of Ourson
Violette
The Dream
The Toad Again
Violette's Sacrifice
The Wild Boar
The Conflagration
The Well
The Farm—The Castle—The Forge
The Sacrifice
The Combat
The Recompense

An excerpt from BLONDINE'S AWAKENING—BEAU-MINON:

"...BLONDINE slept calmly all night; no ferocious beast came to trouble her slumbers. She did not suffer from the cold and awakened at a late hour in the morning. She rubbed her eyes, much surprised to see herself surrounded by trees, in place of being in her own room in the palace, and upon her own bed.

She called her nurse and a soft mewing was the only response. Astonished and almost frightened, she looked around and saw at her feet a superb white cat, looking gently upon her and continuing to mew plaintively.

"Ah! pretty puss! how beautiful you are!" cried Blondine, placing her little hand caressingly upon the soft fur, white as snow. "I am so happy to see you, pretty puss, for you will conduct me to your home. I am indeed very hungry and I have not the strength to walk much further without food."

Blondine had scarcely uttered these words, when the white pussy mewed again and pointed with her little paw to a small package lying near her, wrapped neatly in fine white linen. She opened the parcel and found it contained bread and butter which she found delicious. She gave the crumbs to pussy, who munched them with seeming delight.

When they had finished their simple meal, Blondine leaned over towards her little companion, and said, caressingly:

"Thanks, pretty puss, for the breakfast you have given me. Now, can you conduct me to my papa, who is certainly in despair because of my absence?"

Pussy, whom Blondine named Beau-Minon, shook her head and mewed plaintively.

"Ah! you understand me, Beau-Minon," said Blondine. "I entreat you to have pity upon me and lead me to some house before I perish with hunger, cold and terror in this vast forest!"

Beau-Minon looked at the princess fixedly and made a sign with her little graceful white head which seemed to say, "I understand you." She rose, advanced a few steps and paused to see if Blondine followed her..."