Old French Fairy Tales   By: Sophie Ségur (1799-1874)

Comtesse De Segur]

[Illustration: Rosalie saw before her eyes a tree of marvellous beauty ]

OLD FRENCH FAIRY TALES

by

Comtesse De Segur

Illustrated by Virginia Frances Sterrett

The Penn Publishing Company Philadelphia

[Illustration: Copyright 1920 by The Penn Publishing Co.]

THE STORIES

BLONDINE, BONNE BICHE, AND BEAU MINON

BLONDINE 9

BLONDINE LOST 15

THE FOREST OF LILACS 23

BLONDINE'S AWAKENING BEAU MINON 25

BONNE BICHE 28

BLONDINE'S SECOND AWAKENING 33

THE PARROT 40

REPENTANCE 49

THE TORTOISE 56

THE JOURNEY AND ARRIVAL 59

GOOD LITTLE HENRY

THE POOR SICK MOTHER 69

THE CROW, THE COCK, AND THE FROG 73

THE HARVEST 78

THE VINTAGE 81

THE CHASE 84

THE FISHING 89

THE PLANT OF LIFE 94

PRINCESS ROSETTE

THE FARM 103

ROSETTE AT THE COURT OF THE KING HER FATHER 109

FAMILY COUNCIL 116

SECOND DAY OF THE FESTIVAL 119

THIRD AND LAST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL 129

THE LITTLE GREY MOUSE

THE LITTLE HOUSE 143

THE FAIRY DETESTABLE 150

THE PRINCE GRACIOUS 162

THE TREE IN THE ROTUNDA 168

THE CASKET 174

OURSON

THE LARK AND THE TOAD 182

BIRTH AND INFANCY OF OURSON 189

VIOLETTE 192

THE DREAM 204

THE TOAD AGAIN 210

VIOLETTE'S SACRIFICE 218

THE WILD BOAR 223

THE CONFLAGRATION 232

THE WELL 243

THE FARM THE CASTLE THE FORGE 252

THE SACRIFICE 258

THE COMBAT 263

THE RECOMPENSE 272

ILLUSTRATIONS

Rosalie saw before her eyes a tree of marvellous beauty Frontispiece

PAGE

Leger meets the wicked princess, Fourbette 11

She threw her arms around the neck of Bonne Biche 35

Blondine sees the castle of Bonne Biche and Beau Minon 50

They were three months passing through the forest 60

A large and deep river ran at the foot of the mountain 75

A part of the wall crumbled with a terrible noise 82

Henry sprang upon the Wolf's back 87

"What are you seeking, little one?" 94

She saw a man arrive in a laced hat and coat 105

They walked side by side during the rest of the evening 127

The fairy must give herself up to the queen and lose her power for eight days 138

Rosalie never left the park which was surrounded by high walls 144

The broom was on fire at once, blazed up and burned her hands 152

Agnella and Passerose were dashed from cloud to cloud 185

"Ah, ha! you are at last in my domain, little fool!" 211

Violette takes refuge from the wild boar 224

Violette consented willingly to pass the night in the forest 229

Blondine Bonne Biche and Beau Minon

THE STORY OF BLONDINE, BONNE BICHE, AND BEAU MINON

BLONDINE