Once, a long, long time ago, there lived a brave king and a beautiful
queen. They ruled the land wisely; they loved each other dearly, and
they would have been happy but for one thing--they had no children.

At last there came a day of joy--a day that brought a little princess
to the palace. The baby girl grew strong and rosy and the time for her
christening drew near. Then came twelve good fairy godmothers to eat
from the king's twelve golden plates, to drink from his twelve golden
goblets and to bring twelve good wishes to his little daughter.

Now thirteen fairies lived in the kingdom; but, as the king had only
twelve golden plates and twelve golden goblets, the thirteenth fairy
was not invited. This made her very angry and she cried, "I will go to
the christening! I will see the king's daughter and the king shall rue
the day on which he dared to slight me!"

They named the little princess Briar Rose. The first fairy godmother
gave her beauty. The second gave happiness. "Wisdom is my gift," said
number three. "Grace shall be hers," cried four. "I give her wit,"
said five. The sixth godmother gave sympathy. The seventh gave
wealth. The eighth said, "The princess shall have courage and shall be
strong and brave." Number nine cried, "Health is hers as long as ever
she may live." The tenth gave youth. "The Briar Rose shall love her
people and she shall rule gently and where she goes joy shall go too,"
said number eleven. The twelfth fairy opened her lips to wish long
life, when, just at that moment, the thirteenth fairy, who had not been
invited, burst into the room. She pushed the good fairy aside and,
before anyone could stop her, she cried out in a loud angry voice, "The
princess shall prick her finger with a spindle, on her fifteenth