` Hold out your hand then , ' continued the prince , feeling that he must keep his word , whatever the cost , and , to the astonishment of every one present , a little hand , white and delicate , came from beneath the black and dirty skin . The ring slipped on with the utmost ease , and , as it did so , the skin fell to the ground , disclosing a figure of such beauty that the prince , weak as he was , fell on his knees before her , while the king and queen joined their prayers to his . Indeed , their welcome was so warm , and their caresses so bewildering , that the princess hardly knew how to find words to reply , when the ceiling of the hall opened , and the fairy godmother appeared , seated in a car made entirely of white lilac . In a few words she explained the history of the princess , and how she came to be there , and , without losing a moment , preparations of the most magnificent kind were made for the wedding . -LSB- Illustration : The Donkey-skin falls off . -RSB- The kings of every country in the earth were invited , including , of course , the princess 's adopted father -LRB- who by this time had married a widow -RRB- , and not one refused . But what a strange assembly it was ! Each monarch travelled in the way he thought most impressive ; and some came borne in litters , others had carriages of every shape and kind , while the rest were mounted on elephants , tigers , and even upon eagles . So splendid a wedding had never been seen before ; and when it was over the king announced that it was to be followed by a coronation , for he and the queen were tired of reigning , and the young couple must take their place . The rejoicings lasted for three whole months , then the new sovereigns settled down to govern their kingdom , and made themselves so much beloved by their subjects , that when they died , a hundred years later , each man mourned them as his own father and mother . -LSB- From Le Cabinet des Fées . -RSB- THE GOBLIN PONY ` Do n't stir from the fireplace to-night , ' said old Peggy , ` for the wind is blowing so violently that the house shakes ; besides , this is Hallow-e ` en , when the witches are abroad , and the goblins , who are their servants , are wandering about in all sorts of disguises , doing harm to the children of men . ' ` Why should I stay here ? ' said the eldest of the young people . ` No , I must go and see what the daughter of old Jacob , the rope-maker , is doing . She would n't close her blue eyes all night if I did n't visit her father before the moon had gone down . ' ' I must go and catch lobsters and crabs , ' said the second , ` and not all the witches and goblins in the world shall hinder me . ' So they all determined to go on their business or pleasure , and scorned the wise advice of old Peggy . Only the youngest child hesitated a minute , when she said to him , ` You stay here , my little Richard , and I will tell you beautiful stories . ' But he wanted to pick a bunch of wild thyme and some blackberries by moonlight , and ran out after the others .
When they got outside the house they said : ` The old woman talks XXXXX wind and storm , but never was the weather finer or the sky more clear ; see how majestically the moon stalks through the transparent clouds ! '
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