the Fairy) it will be necessary to make an exchange, and to transfer your age and infirmities to some one who will be contented to spare you her youth and health. To whom, therefore, shall we give your hundred years ?"

Hereupon the Queen gave orders to make diligent inquiry throughout the kingdom, for a person who might be willing to barter youth for age, upon a valuable consideration. When these orders were publicly known, a great many poor people, from all parts, flocked to the court; all of them desirous to be made old and rich: but, when they had seen the queen at dinner, hideous in her infirmities, trembling and coughing over a mess of water-gruel, and doating ever and anon as she spoke, not one was inclinable to take up the burden of her years, They chose rather to live by begging, and to enjoy youth and health in rags. There came, likewise, a crowd of ambitious persons, to whom she promised great dignities and the highest honours but when they had seen her; "What will all our grandeur avail (said they), when we shall appear so frightful as to be ashamed to shéw ourselves in public?"

At last there came a young country girl, whose name was Mopsy, in full bloom; who demanded no less than the crown, as an equi

valent for her youth and beauty. The Queen immediately grew angry; but to what purpose? she was bent upon renewing her vigour at any rate, and she said to Mopsy, "Let us divide my kingdom, and share alike: you shall reign over the one half, and I will content myself with the other this will be power enough in conscience for you, who are but a little mean peasant." "No (replies the girl), I am not so easily satisfied; let me enjoy my obscure condition and my rosy complexion, and much good may it do your majesty with your hundred years and your wrinkles, and more than one foot in the grave.”—“ But then (says the Queen), what should I be able to do without my kingdom?" "You would laugh, you would dance, you would sing, like me; answers the young gypsey; and immediately she broke out into laughter, and danced, and sung. The Queen, who was far from being in a condition to imitate her jollity, said; "And what would you do in my place? you are neither accustomed to old age, nor empire. "-"I cannot well say (answers this country lass) what I should do, but I have a month's mind to try it a little; for I have always heard it is a fine thing to be a queen."

When the two parties seemed now disposed

to an agreement, and were ready to strike the bargain, in comes the Fairy; and, addressing herself to Mopsy, said, "Are you willing to make trial of the condition of an old queen; and see first how you like it, before you resolve upon the change in good earnest ?” -"With all my heart," replies the girl. Her forehead is instantly furrowed with wrinkles, her chesnut hair turns white, she grows peevish and morose, her head shakes, her teeth are loose, and she is already an hundred years old. The fairy then opens a little box, and lets out a multitude of officers and courtiers of both sexes, richly appareled; who soon shot up into the full stature of men and women, and paid their homage to the new queen. She is conducted to her chair of state, and a costly banquet is immediately set before her: but, alas! she has no appetite, and cannot bear the fumes of the table: her limbs fail her when she tries to walk; he is awkward and bashful, and in a maze; she knows not how to speak, nor which way to turn herself; she calls for a looking-glass, and is startled at her own deformity; and she coughs till her sides ache.

In the mean time, the true Queen stands in a corner of the room, by herself; she laughs, and begins to grow handsome. Her temples are

shaded with hair, and she renews her teeth; her cheeks glow with youth, and her forehead is fair and smooth. And now she begins to recollect her youthful airs and virgin coyness and sets her person out to the best advantage. But, she is troubled to find herself but meanly appareled; her coats short and scanty; and her waistcoat of a coarse woollen stuff: she was not used to be thus poorly equipped; and one of her own guards, who took her for some rude creature, went to turn her out of the palace.

Then said Mopsy to her, "I perceive you are not a little uneasy in my condition, and I am much more weary of yours; take your crown again, and give me back my russet garment." The exchange was soon made: as soon the queen withered, and the virginpeasant bloomed afresh. The restitution was hardly completed on both sides, when each began to repent; but it was too late, for the Fairy had now condemned them both to remain in their proper condition.

The queen bewailed herself daily upon the smallest indisposition: "Alas! (would she say) if I was Mopsy at this time, I should sleep indeed in a cottage, and feed upon chesnuts; but then, by day, I should dance in the shade with the shepherds, to the sweet music of the

pipe. What am I happier for lying in an embroidered bed, where I am never free from pain? or, for my numerous attendants, who have not the power to relieve me?"

Her grief for having forfeited her choice increased her indispositions; and the physicians (who were twelve in number) constantly attending her, soon brought her distempers to a height. Briefly, she died at the end of two months. Mopsy was in the midst of a dance with her companions, on the bank of a running stream, when tidings came of the Queen's death: then she blessed herself that she had escaped from royalty, more through good-fortune and impatience, than through forecast and resolution.

FREE-THINKER, No. 92, Feb. 6, 1718.