Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/55

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The Tinder-Box.

with all her ingenuity, to find the right door again.

Early next morning came the King and Queen, the old lady, and all the high officers of the crown, to ascertain where the Princess had gone to in the night.

“Here’s the house!” exclaimed the King, when he saw the first door that had a cross on it.

“No, it must be here, my dear,” said the Queen, perceiving the next house with a white cross.

“Here, there, and every where are white crosses” cried all; for, look where they would, the street-doors had white crosses on them; and they now perceived it would be a vain attempt to try to find the right house.

The Queen, however, was an exceedingly clever woman. She knew something more than merely how to sit in a carriage with an air; and therefore she soon found out a way how to come on the traces of the dog. She took a whole piece of silk, cut it in two with a golden pair of scissors, and

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