Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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The Missile 15 That evening the witch came with a bowl of broth and a slice of bread, and, as on the night before, went away grumbling. On the third day, when the fairy came at the usual hour, the princess asked her if she knew why she had been brought to the dreadful tower. ‘‘The ogre who brought you here,” said the fairy, “was once a friend of your father’s. Once he caught the ogre f whom he thought to be his friend, stealing his cattle, and when the servants of your father brought him to the palace, your father said that if he ever saw the ogre up- on his grounds again he would have him hanged. “The ogre said nothing, but when he had gotten out- side the gates of the palace he swore vengeance upon the king and said that some day he would have his revenge. “So you see, Princess Neoma, he is having his revenge now, while your father lives in agony. But try to keep smiling, my dear, keep smiling.” So saying, the fairy departed. But, just as before, the face of the princess became darker. The next morning the old witch came to bring food to the princess. As she was about to leave the room, the princess turned from the window through which she had been gazing with a pleading expression on her face. “Will you allow me to walk in the garden if I don’t eat any of that food ?” asked the captive. “It is so tire- some to stay up here in this tower room all day long. If you would allow me to wander in the soft green grass, it would seem more like home and it wouldn’t seem so bad to be a captive of the dreadful ogre.” The old woman shook he head, but the pleading look on the poor girl’s face caused her to change her mind

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14 The Missile. ing in it but a stiff-back chair and a very uncomfortable looking couch. After the witch had disappeared and the lock had fallen back into its accustomed place, the princess looked about her in despair. What would she do? How could she get out of this dreadful place? Should she call for help? No. That would only arouse the old witch’s anger, and besides the princess knew she could not be heard by any- body seeking to aid her; so she relapsed into a pout. As she stood looking out of the iron-barred window, she heard a slight rustling noise, and turning about she saw a dazzling fairy dressed in white, smiling at her. The minute she saw the sullen look upon the face of the prin- cess, her face also fell, but only for a moment. “Why, dear princess, I never saw you with such a look upon your beautiful face before. Have you forgotten that your name is Neoma, which means Happiness?” in- quired the good fairy. “Oh ! that word is only a mockery to me. Call me anything else but that,” replied the sullen captive. “Well, my message from the good fairies to you is, my dear, that you smile; it’s the only way you can be set free,” said the fairy. “Farewell, and don’t forget to smile.” After the fairy left, the once happy face of the princess became darker than ever. That evening the witch came to the door and gave Neoma a bowl of broth and a slice of bread and with a slight grumbling, shut the door and went down the long flight of stairs. The next day at the same hour as she had come the day before, the good fairy appeared and told the princess to smile and keep smiling, for ’twas the only way she could gain her freedom.

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16 The Missile and she said she would allow the princess to walk in the garden every day if she would do without her morning meal. For this unexpected pleasure the princess thanked her, and after taking the scant amount of food which she had brought the prisoner, the witch led the way down a differ- ent flight of stairs from those they had ascended. This stairway opened into a large kitchen and in this room was a door which opened upon a large porch. There were no lurnishings on it, and the yard — how different it was from the one about the palace! There were no flowers, no pretty trees, nothing but grass and weeds. But even this was better than that dreadful room up at the top of the tower. Morning after morning the princess strolled through the garden, which was enclosed by a high stone wall. One morning she wandered further than usual, and she came to a large pool of water. The water was very deep, for although it was clear as crystal, yet one could not see to the bottom of it. As the princess glanced down into the water, she noticed how ugly her face had become. Where was that lovely smile ? Where were those laughing eyes? The princess immediately tried to replace the smile, but all in vain. After many attempts and remembering what the good fairy had told her, she smiled to think that it was possible that she would be set free and would be allowed to return to her father’s house. As the smile broke out all over her face, there was a rippling of the waters, and there in the midst of the pool stood a hand- some prince. Neoma turned to run away, but he called her to come