THE PRINCE AND THE CRUMBS OF DOUGH
Once upon a time, so an old story says, a certain king was anxious that his son, the prince, should marry the most thrifty maiden to be found in his kingdom.
So he invited to the palace on a certain date all the young women of the country, for that was the custom when a new princess was to be chosen.
On every side were arranged long tables, at which each girl was given a place.
Upon the tables were the materials and bowls and pans needed in making bread. In the center of the room on a small platform sat the king and queen, the prince, and several courtiers.
When they had all taken their places, the king announced that there would be a contest in bread-mixing; and that a handsome prize would be given to the young woman who, in the judgment of the king and queen, made bread in the best way.
You can imagine how excited all the young women were, and how each one set about her task trembling with nervousness, yet in her secret heart hoping to win the prize.
You can imagine, too, how difficult it was to act as judge; for the king and queen knew there must be several young women there who could make bread equally well.
Every once in a while, the king whispered to the queen, and the queen smiled and shook her head doubtfully, as if to say, “We shall have a hard task to judge with fairness.”