As the maiden knelt on the cushion at the feet of the king and queen, the prince came forward and placed a sparkling diamond ring on her finger, and raised her to her feet.
“Will you accept it as a betrothal ring, and become my princess?” he whispered; and Hildegarde answered, “Yes.”
“The prince goes with the prize,” said the king; “for he wants to have for his princess the most thrifty maiden in the land.”
All the young women were invited to the wedding of the prince and Hildegarde, and each received as a souvenir a beautiful little gold purse in the form of a loaf of bread.
QUESTIONS
Did the king and queen and prince need the crumbs of dough?
Then why do you think Hildegarde was chosen?
Why does it pay to save little things?
Do you know that the gold dust in the sweepings at the mint amounts to many dollars in a year?
Can you think of something you could save at your house?
We shape ourselves the joy or fear
Of which the coming life is made;
And fill our future atmosphere