Witch Winnie The Story of a King's Daughter   By: Elizabeth W. Champney (1850-1922)

Illustration captions in {brackets} have been added by the transcriber for reader convenience.

The position of some illustrations has been changed to improve readability.

Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. These minor errors include extra or missing commas, periods, and quotation marks (" and ').

Significant typographical errors have been corrected. A full list of these corrections is available in the Transcriber's Corrections section at the end of the book.

[Illustration: {Cover: Witch Winnie The Story of a King's Daughter Elizabeth W. Champney}]

WITCH WINNIE.

[Illustration: {Woman lowers basket from window to three men waiting below.}]

WITCH WINNIE

THE STORY OF A "KING'S DAUGHTER"

BY

ELIZABETH W. CHAMPNEY

NEW YORK

DODD, MEAD & COMPANY

PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1889, by WHITE AND ALLEN

Copyright, 1891, by DODD, MEAD & COMPANY

THE BURR PRINTING HOUSE New York

DEDICATED TO MY LITTLE WITCH MARIE.

Where she's been the sunshine lingers, She's my witch and she's my mouse; She has helpful, fairy fingers, Busy keeper of the house.

She is tricksy and she's elfish; Sure no plague could e'er be worse; She is thoughtful and unselfish, She's my gentle angel nurse.

All their jokes the brownies lend her, She's a merry, mischief thing; But her heart is very tender She's a Daughter of the King.

Yes, there's something nice about her, And I'll love her till my death; No, I could not do without her I'm her ma, Elizabeth.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

INTRODUCTION, 9

I. BOARDING SCHOOL SCRAPES, 11

II. GUINEVERE'S GOWN, 30

III. THE PRINCESS, 50

IV. COURT LIFE, 63

V. LITTLE PRINCE DEL PARADISO, 79

VI. MRS. HETTERMAN THROWS LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY, 90

VII. WINNIE'S CONFESSION, 109

VIII. THE ELDER BROTHER AND MRS. HALSEY'S STRANGE STORY, 123

IX. THE KING'S DAUGHTERS AND THE VENETIAN FÊTE, 139

X. THE LANDLORD OF RICKETT'S COURT, 162

XI. THE GUESTS OF THE ELDER BROTHER, 189

XII. WITH THE DYNAMITERS, 212

XIII. THE KING'S DAUGHTERS IN THE COUNTRY, 225

XIV. OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY, 246

XV. THE ESTATES DEL PARADISO, 302

INTRODUCTION.

It is but just to explain that, while all of the characters introduced in this little story are purely imaginary, the founding of the Home of the Elder Brother was suggested by the work of some real children, younger than Madame's pupils, who gave a little fair, and, helped by charitable people, instituted a lovely charity, the Messiah Home for Little Children, at 4 Rutherford Place, New York City. This Home still opens its doors to the children of working women, and is helped by different circles of King's Daughters, some of whom have adopted children to clothe. It is a beautiful work, founded by children for children, and it is hoped that others all over the land will join in it, and that the work may broaden until no such dens as Rickett's Court will remain in our fair city or country.

E. W. C.