"I always knew that when my son saw fit to select his bride he would choose a rare woman," said the queen mother proudly.
The king himself did not say a single word, but gazed and gazed at the lovely face of Linda Branca with such joy in his eyes that she knew in her heart that at last she was glad to be beautiful.
"Stay pretty," is a parting greeting between women in the Azores. Perhaps it was Linda Branca herself who began saying it in the beginning.
FRESH FIGS
The Story of a Clever Youth and a Foolish One
Long ago there lived a little maid who fell ill. Her father was very rich and he did everything he could for her.
One day she said: "If I only had some fresh figs I'm sure I'd feel better."
Now it was in the month of January. It would be many long months before the fresh figs would be ripe. The rich man was greatly worried. Not even his fortune could ripen the figs, as he well knew.
Nevertheless he decided to advertise and therefore said: "Whoever shall bring fresh figs to my daughter shall marry her if he be young. If he be old he shall receive his reward in money."