district, had chosen the declivity that ran opposite the castle down to the lake, as a pasture-ground for his flock. Day after day, during the fine season of the year, he sat on a rock that projected over the water, and made baskets, mats, and cages; often he played sweet airs upon his flute, while his lambs enjoyed the juicy herbs of the Alps. When the sounds of the shepherd's flute resounded so sweetly along the lonely shore, and the silence carried them to the opposite bank, a little window in the old castle was opened, and a pale but pleasant face looked out towards the shepherd-boy until twilight came, and the little musician drove his flock homeward. But with the morning dawn he appeared again, and he was glad, when he saw the pale face of a boy at the window, listening with pleasure to the sounds. Who can the poor fellow be?' thought the good young shepherd; 'why can they have locked him into that ugly castle, for he must be locked in, or he would come out to me in the open air?'

With these thoughts in his mind, he wandered along the shore towards the castle, and he nodded to the boy with the black curls at the window. But beautiful as the songs were, kind words though he gave, and though he beckoned with all his heart, everything was in vain. The inhabitant of the castle shook his head sadly, and shrugged his shoulders, but he would not come.

'I must see what it is,' cried Jery-that was the shepherd's name-and wandered on to the castle. His lambs had followed him; but he whistled to his faithful dog, and desired him to guard the sheep carefully until his return. He wagged his tail obediently, for he understood every word of his master's, and collected the flock to drive them back to their grazing-place.

Jery soon reached the gate of the castle; but what was his astonishment when he found armed men, with long beards and threatening swords, holding watch there. Terrified, he was going to creep away; but it was too late. One of the soldiers had noticed him, and laid hold of him. They all began to question him-who he was? from whence he came? what he wanted here? The boy was half-dead with terror, but as a good conscience never allows people to be disgraced, he soon recovered himself, and told them openly what had brought him there.

'How?' cried the one who had caught him-' how? You wished to steal to the prisoner? You shall pay dearly for that; we will put you into a little chamber, where you will lose your curiosity soon enough.'

Saying these words, the soldiers dragged Jery into the courtyard, and he was just about to be thrown into a dark dungeon, when a gentle voice was heard from an upper window.

Leave him alone, pray-the poor boy!' cried the little prisoner; even if you wish to prevent him from coming up to me to lessen my sorrow a little, do not, please, harm him.'

The men were moved to pity-they held a council together; and at last they led Jery up to his unknown friend, who received him in a splendid room. The golden walls, the marble floor, the many splendours which Jery saw here for the first time, made him silent, so that he scarcely returned the friendliness of the inhabitant of the castle.

'Don't be afraid,' said he, 'and give me your hand; your songs have given me much pleasure already, and I have great need of some.'

'You cannot be in want of pleasure,' replied Jery courageously, 'for here it is really too beautiful. But who are you?'

'I am an unhappy prince, who has been robbed of his inheritance by a wicked man. That I might not be able to harm him, he has sent me hither, far, far from my native land. Ah, my fatherland! It lies opposite those high ice mountains, and is called Naples. There, it is never winter, and here I am often so cold! But I have said enough about myself. Come, my new young friend. I will now give you as much pleasure for your pleasant music as I can.'

The prince took Jery by the hand, and led him up and down through a row of rooms. One was still more splendid than the other. They were glittering with gold and silver, purple hangings, gay carpets, silken couches, and crystal candlesticks; everything was to be found here. The most costly things were put up in every room, the most beautiful singing-birds in glittering cages, the most wonderful pictures,, rare toys, tempting fruits in golden dishes, adorned this dwelling of joy, and Jery clasped his hands together with wonder, and thought to himself in secret: 'How delightful it would be to live in this castle !' A hundred times he wished himself in the place of the prince, and he could not understand how he could feel sorrowful, when nothing was wanting in this splendid abundance.

With jests and play the hours passed by quickly and unnoticed, till late evening approached, and the prince, although unwillingly, had to remind his friend that they must part. With aching heart Jery prepared to leave the charming place and his delightful playfellow, and went, after promising many times to return. The

sentinels saved him the trouble, and told him when he reached the gate, that he must now stay with the prince, and would never be allowed to leave the castle again.

Who was better pleased than Jery? who more delighted than the prince, who now had a companion, who seemed willing to share his lot with pleasure, and forget flock, home, and former friends, for this new mode of life? Games, stories, songs, and the sweet melodies of the flute shortened the days, and many of them had passed before discontent and sadness came into Jery's heart. The boy, who had always been so lively before, sat now for hours in a corner, while the prince sat in another to lament the sorrow of his friend. A nameless longing had taken possession of the shepherd-boy-home-sickness-a desire for freedom robbed him of his rest. In vain he rolled about on his silken cushions; in vain he tried to be pleased with the glittering toys. Sleep fled from his bed; the toys became disgusting in his sight; the food in the golden dishes made him sick, as well as the wine in the crystal cup. The song of the birds was tiresome; the funny chattering of the parrots he thought absurd; even his flute he would no longer touch, and when he went to the window, looked out into the blue sky, and his glance fell upon the sunny fields or the green surface of the lake, tears came into his eyes. Weeping, he fled from the room; but the noise of arms at the gate reminded him that he was a prisoner in the fortress. The prince consoled him as well as he could, but he could not silence his longing for home.

It happened that the prince fell asleep one afternoon on his couch, and Jery went to the window once more to cry. Behold! he fancied he saw his flocks

grazing on the other side of the lake, and his faithful dog seemed to look at him, and wagged his tail, as if he wished to call his master over to him. It went to the boy's heart, and some voice within him cried: Flee, flee quickly! This is the moment, or never!' He yielded to the feeling, and hastened to the door of the room. Then he thought of his young friend: to leave him was hard. He would see him once more. He went over to his couch. The prince seemed sound asleep; but when Jery bent down to him, to listen to his breathing, he became terrified, for his heart was no longer beating, no breath heaved his breast; a sweet death had delivered him gently from his sorrows. Jery rushed into the passage to cry for help, but the court was empty, the gate of the castle was open, and the sentinels had fallen asleep from the sultry heat. The moment was favourable. One more farewell to the departed friend, a short prayer to his Father in heaven, and the shepherd-boy stole safely past the soldiers out of the castle.

With hasty steps he had soon reached the spot where the faithful dog watched the flock intrusted to his care, though his poor fare had made him lean. The lambs and their four-footed protector received their long wished-for master with the greatest joy; and full of delight to have escaped the prison, Jery commenced a merry mountainlay. But the prince no longer leaned from the window to listen, and fresh tears to his memory interrupted the shepherd's song. The fresh evening breeze, the murmuring of the lake, and the joyful advances of his flock gave him the purest delight. Once more he saluted the gray castle, in which he had spent few happy and many evil hours, and he drove his sheep across the mountain to his home.