` My boy , my dear boy ! ' cried the king , ` who is it you want to marry ? We will give her to you for a bride , even if she is the humblest of our slaves . What is there in the whole world that we would not do for you ? ' The prince , moved to tears at these words , drew the ring , which was an emerald of the purest water , from under his pillow . ` Ah , dear father and mother , let this be a proof that she whom I love is no peasant girl . The finger which that ring fits has never been thickened by hard work . But be her condition what it may , I will marry no other . ' The king and queen examined the tiny ring very closely , and agreed , with their son , that the wearer could be no mere farm girl . Then the king went out and ordered heralds and trumpeters to go through the town , summoning every maiden to the palace . And she whom the ring fitted would some day be queen . First came all the princesses , then all the duchesses ' daughters , and so on , in proper order . But not one of them could slip the ring over the tip of her finger , to the great joy of the prince , whom excitement was fast curing . At last , when the high-born damsels had failed , the shopgirls and chambermaids took their turn ; but with no better fortune . ` Call in the scullions and shepherdesses , ' commanded the prince ; but the sight of their fat , red fingers satisfied everybody . ` There is not a woman left , your Highness , ' said the chamberlain ; but the prince waved him aside . ` Have you sent for `` Donkey Skin , '' who made me the cake ? ' asked he , and the courtiers began to laugh , and replied that they would not have dared to introduce so dirty a creature into the palace . ` Let some one go for her at once , ' ordered the king . ' I commanded the presence of every maiden , high or low , and I meant it . '
The princess had heard the trumpets and the proclamations , and knew quite well that her XXXXX was at the bottom of it all .
chamberlain excitement finger fits joy mother pillow ring slaves town