THE SOLDIER AND THE DEMONS.
A faithful soldier, having served his master for many a long year, received his pay, and was on his way to his native land. He had to go through many kingdoms; at last he stopped in one, and came to the house of an old woman.
"How are things getting on in your country?" he asked; "is everything well?"
"Not quite, soldier," she answered. "You see, our king has a daughter, who is very beautiful—Princess Martha we call her. Well, a foreign prince came to our country, and made her an offer of marriage; but our princess refused him, and a good job too; the wretch flew into a dreadful rage, and let a number of demons loose upon her. It is already the third year that this has been going on, and the poor dear princess has not slept once all the time on account of these little demons, but cries out in despair all night long."
"Can no one do anything for her?"
"No, soldier; the king has tried everything in his power to save her from the evil spirits, and many a man has been brought to the palace to try and drive away the demons, but all in vain; no one can do anything."
"Well," said the soldier, "I will go and try my
