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The old man told the prince that the time. had come when the long enchantment was at an end.

"But who knows how great the danger may be?" added the old man. "No one has entered the palace for a hundred years!"

"I will brave the danger, whatever it may be!" exclaimed Prince Courageous. "I will find the sleeping princess or lose my life!"

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So Prince Courageous mounted his horse and rode through the woods until he came to the tall thorn hedge. He made his way through the underbrush.

The briers were thick and the thorns sharp, but Prince Courageous was strong and brave. He knocked at the gate, but there was The prince opened the gate

no answer.

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All was silence in the palace hall. Only the sound of his own footsteps could Prince Courageous hear.

Everybody was fast asleep.

the horses in their stalls, the pigeons on the roof, the birds in their nests, the servants in the halls, the king and queen on their golden throne.

Prince Courageous tiptoed through the silent rooms. Finally, he reached the narrow stairway that led to the tower.

The prince climbed the winding stairs. There, beside the spinning wheel, lay the beautiful princess, fast asleep.

Stepping softly to her side, he kissed the princess on the cheek. Thorn Rose opened and there stood the prince!

her eyes

And now all the court awoke.

The horses began to neigh. The dogs

began to bark.

birds sang.

The pigeons cooed. The

The kitchen fire burst into flame.

The sun shone brightly, and the roses on the palace wall swayed in the breeze.

The prince and the princess were married next day, and the seven good fairies danced at the wedding feast.

THE WOLVES AND THE DEER Long ago, a pack of wolves lived on a prairie. Some deer lived near by.

The wolves could run swiftly, but they knew that the deer were swift runners, too. The hungry wolves wondered how they might catch the deer and eat them.

At last they thought of a fine plan. They invited the deer to run a race with them.

The wolves and the deer started in the race side by side, but the deer ran much the faster. The wolves were very angry. "We will eat the deer yet, they said.

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One day they prepared a great feast. They invited the deer to dine with them. The deer sat down facing the wolves. Then the wolves said to the deer, "Laugh, you on the other side!"

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No," said the deer.

"You laugh first." Very well," said the wolves. "We will laugh first."

And they laughed, "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

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