THE PRACTICAL
PRINCESS
BY Jay Williams
Princess Bedelia was as lovely as the moon shining on a lake full of waterlillies. She was as graceful as a cat leaping. And she was also extremely practical.
When she was born, three fairies had come to her cradle to give her gifts, as was usual in that country. The first fairy had given her beauty, The second had given her grace. But the third, who was a wise old creature, had said
"I give her common sense."
"I don't think much of tha gift," said King Ludwig raising his eyebrows.
"What good is common sense to a Princess? All she needs is charm."
Nevertheless, when Bedelia was eighteen years old, something happened which made the king change his mind.
A dragon moved into the neighbourhood. He settld in a dark cave on top of the mountain, and the first thing he did was to send a message to the king.
"I must have a Princess to devour," the message said "Or I shall breathe out my fiery breath and destory the kingdom."
Sadly, King Luwig called together his counsellors and read them the message.
"Perhaps," said the Prime Minister, "We had better advertise for a knight to slay the dragon? That is what is generally done in these cases."
"I'm afraid we haven't time." answered the King. "the dragon has only given us until tommorow morning. There is no help for it, we shall have to send him the Princess." Princess Bedelia had come to the meeting because, as she had said, she liked to mind her own business and this was certainly her business.
"Rubbish!" She said. "Dragons can't tell the difference between Princesses and anyone else. Use your common sense, he's just asking for me because he's a snob."
"That may be so," said her father "but if we don't send you along, he will destroy the kingdom."
"Right!" Said Bedelia. "I see I will have to deal with this myself." She left the council chamber. She got the largest and the gaudiest of her state robes and stuffed it with straw, and tied it together with string. Into the centre of the bundle she packed about fifty kilos of gunpowder. She got two strong young men to carry it up the mountain for her. She stood in front of the dragon's cave and called,
"Come out! here's the Princess!"
The dragon came peering and blinking out of the darkness. Seeing the bright robe covered with gold and silver embroidery, and hearing Bedelia's voice , he opened his mouth wide.
At Bedelia's signal, the two men swung the robe and gave it a good heave, right down the dragon's throat. Bedelia threw herself flat on the ground and the two men ran.
As the gunpowder met the flames inside the dragon, there was a tremendous explosion.
Bedelia got up and dusted herself off, and said
"Dragons, are not very bright."