That day Mr. Williams took particular care to move the chickens near him as he lay by his kennel, and to watch. But, no--the cunning rascal would take no notice of them at all. They ran and tumbled all about him, but he let them run. He was a hypocrite, consummate and proved, and he left the farm that evening. [Illustration: THE COTTON-WOOL PRINCESS.] A STORY FOR CHILDREN FROM THE ITALIAN OF LUIGI CAPUANA. A thousand years ago there lived a King and a Queen. They had only one daughter, who was dearer to them than all the world. Now, when the King of France sent to their Court to request the hand of the Princess, neither father nor mother would part from their beloved daughter, and they said to the Ambassador: "She is still too young!" But as the girl became every day more beautiful, the next year the King of Spain's Ambassador appeared to request the girl's hand for his Sovereign. And again the parents answered: "She is still too young!" Both the Kings were very angry at this refusal, and resolved to revenge themselves on the poor Princess. As they were not able themselves to carry out their wicked resolve, they summoned a Magician and said to him: "You must devise for us some charm to be used against the Princess--and the worse it is the greater shall be your reward!" With the words, "In one month your wish shall be fulfilled!" the Magician departed. Before the four weeks were over, he appeared again in the castle of the King of Spain. "Your Majesty, here is the charm!" he cried. "Give her this ring as a present, and when she has worn it on her finger for four-and-twenty hours, you shall see the effect!" Now the two Kings consulted together as to how they should get the ring to the Princess. For they were no longer friendly with her parents, who would, consequently, become suspicious of any present sent by them. What was to be done? "I have it! I have it!" the King of Spain cried, suddenly. Then he disguised himself as a goldsmith, set out on a journey, and took up his position just opposite the palace where the Princess lived. The Queen noticed him from her window, and as she happened at that time to be wanting to buy some jewellery she sent for him. After she had bought from the stranger various bracelets, chains, and earrings, she said to her daughter:-- "And you will not choose anything among all these fine things for yourself, little daughter?" Then the Princess answered, "I see nothing especially beautiful among them." Then the disguised King took the ring out of its case, which he had up to the present kept hidden, made it sparkle in the sun, and said: "Your Majesty, here is still a very rare jewel; this ring has not its equal in the world for beauty. And it does not please you?" "Oh, how splendid! Oh, how beautifully it sparkles and gleams!" cried the Princess, entranced. "How much does it cost?" "The ring has no price; I shall be contented with whatever you give me for it."