E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant, Charlene Taylor, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 15227-h.htm or 15227-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227/15227-h/15227-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227/15227-h.zip) THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZYBONES AND OTHER STORIES by MRS. W. J. HAYS Author of "Princess Idleways" Illustrated Harper & Brothers Publishers New York and London 1884 [Illustration: "GOOD EVENING, MY DEAR PRINCE."] CONTENTS THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZYBONES PHIL'S FAIRIES FLORIO AND FLORELLA: A CHRISTMAS FAIRY TALE BOREAS BLUSTER'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT ILLUSTRATIONS "Good-evening, my dear Prince" (Frontispiece) "Approach of the swanlike boat" "Look! There's an eagle" "Making the sturgeon useful" THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZY BONES CHAPTER I Of all the illustrious families who have shone like gems upon the earth's surface, none have been more distinguished in their way than the Lazybones family; and were I so disposed I might recount their virtues and trace their talents from a long-forgotten period. But interesting as the study might prove, it would be a difficult task, and the attention I crave for Prince Leo would be spent on his ancestors. Of princely blood and proud birth, Leo was a youth most simple-minded. He knew that much was expected of him, and that he was destined to rule; yet so easily was he satisfied that his greatest happiness was to lie all day basking in the sun or dawdling through his father's park with his dog at his heels, the heels themselves in a very down-trodden state of humility, watching with languid gaze the movements of the world about him. And the world just where he lived was very beautiful. On a fertile plain, surrounded by mountain-peaks of great height, threaded by silver streams, and so well watered that its vegetation was almost tropical, was the estate of Leo's father, Prince Morpheus Lazybones. It had been in the family for ages, and was so rich in timber and mineral resources that none of its owners had cared to cultivate the land. Timber was cut sparingly, however, because the market for it was too distant, and the minerals remained in their native beds for much the same reason. The family throve, notwithstanding, and were well supplied with all manner of delicacies, for the servants were many, and there was never a lack of corn or wine.