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Description: "This volume belongs to a series
of "Stories Old and New" which has been prepared specially for children."
Classification: Children's Bookshelf / Literature
Publication Date: 1857
Length: 6 Stories, 126 pages
Illustrations: Colour illustrations
Book attributes: Printable / No security code needed
Book ID: GC-GWC-Browne
Download Size: 930 kb
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LADY GREENSLEEVES
On the evening of the next day King
Winwealth again fell into low spirits, and
gave orders that Snowflower and her wonderful
chair should be brought to the highest
hall. When Snowflower came, she at once
laid down her head on the chair, saying:
"Chair of my grandmother, tell me a
story."
"Listen," said the clear voice from under
the cushion, "to the story of Lady Greensleeves."
Once upon a time there lived two noble
lords in the east country. Their lands lay
between a broad river and an old oak forest.
In the midst of his land each lord had a
stately castle; one was built of white freestone,
the other of grey granite. So the
one was called Lord of the White Castle,
and the other Lord of the Grey.
No lords in all the east country were so
noble and kind as they. Their people lived
in peace and plenty; all strangers were well
treated at their castles. Every autumn they
sent men with axes into the forest to hew
down the great trees, and chop them into
firewood for the poor. Neither hedge nor
ditch divided their lands, but these lords
never had a quarrel. They had been friends
from their youth. Their ladies had died
long ago, but the Lord of the Grey Castle
had a little son, and the Lord of the White
a little daughter; and when they feasted
in each other's halls it was their custom
to say, "When our children grow up they
will marry, and have our castles and our
lands, and keep our friendship in memory."
So the lords and their little children, and
their people, lived happily till one Michaelmas
night, as they were all feasting in the hall
of the White Castle, there came a traveller to the gate, who was welcomed and
feasted as usual. He had seen many strange sights and countries, and he liked to
tell of his travels. The lords were delighted with his tales as they sat round
the fire after supper,
and at length the Lord of the White Castle,
who was always very eager to know all he
could about new countries, said:
"Good stranger, what was the greatest
wonder you ever saw in all your travels?"
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