It was, indeed, a peculiar country, very different from ours--so
different, that my reader must not be too much surprised when I add
the amazing fact, that most of its inhabitants, instead of enjoying
the things they had, were always wanting the things they had not,
often even the things it was least likely they ever could have. The
grown men and women being like this, there is no reason to be
further astonished that the Princess Rosamond--the name her parents
gave her because it means Rose of the World--should grow up like
them, wanting every thing she could and every thing she couldn't
have. The things she could have were a great many too many, for her
foolish parents always gave her what they could; but still there
remained a few things they couldn't give her, for they were only a
common king and queen. They could and did give her a lighted candle
when she cried for it, and managed by much care that she should not
burn her fingers or set her frock on fire; but when she cried for
the moon, that they could not give her. They did the worst thing
possible, instead, however; for they pretended to do what they could
not. They got her a thin disc of brilliantly polished silver, as
near the size of the moon as they could agree upon; and, for a time
she was delighted.

But, unfortunately, one evening she made the discovery that her moon
was a little peculiar, inasmuch as she could not shine in the dark.
Her nurse happened to snuff out the candles as she was playing with
it; and instantly came a shriek of rage, for her moon had vanished.
Presently, through the opening of the curtains, she caught sight of
the real moon, far away in the sky, and shining quite calmly, as if
she had been there all the time; and her rage increased to such a
degree that if it had not passed off in a fit, I do not know what