The fairy held out her hand. "Come, we must continue on. There is still much to see." William took her hand, and the room and the woman disappeared. They now were flying through space past millions of stars. As they flew, the dawn appeared on the horizon, and as they met it, they were engulfed in yellow light so bright they both had to close their eye for a moment. When they opened their eyes, they were in the village below William's castle.

"Welcome to Christmas morning!" the fairy said, waving her hand toward the smiling villagers who were hurrying through the streets. William looked at her and surprisingly noticed a change about her. When she had first appeared at his bedside, she was all gowned in gold and her hair had been below her shoulders. Now, in the morning light her dress and hair were yellow like the corn, and her hair hung below her waist. Her eyes were now hazel instead of blue.

Meeting his gaze, and as though knowing his puzzlement, the fairy said, "It is not of importance for you to worry yourself about. Look! And see how your subjects celebrate Christmas under your rule."

William turned his gaze to the scene before him. Men and women bustled along, wishing each other a merry Christmas. Coins clinked merrily into beggars' cups. Children ran throwing snowballs at their friends. Dogs were given larger than usual bones for a good sup. And as the church bells rang out, all gathered at the church to give thanks.

As William watched them, he noticed how most of the people's clothing was a bit shabby and torn, and holes were patched with different patches of cloth. Their shoes had been almost worn through.

"Why do the villagers run around with such old clothes and not buy new bonnets and aprons and shoes?" William asked, turning to the fairy.

She turned her eyes on him. "They would if they could. But they cannot because the taxes are high, and lately you haven't had plain cloth brought for them. The gold and silver, fancy clothes, and jewels for your friends --the villagers could not make use of, nor could they afford. Many, many times have they asked for audiences with you. But they have been refused. So they go about in their old clothes, being as content as they can be with their family and friends, despairing of your help, while Mary comes down and hands out bread."

William was silent as he pondered these words.

"They're coming!" a woman's shout broke into William's thoughts. He looked up as a crowd of people gathered together at one of the streets. They parted, and William and the fairy saw Mary and her nanny come through, baskets full of bread in their hands. All called a greeting to the little princess and gave her a bow and a curtsy, along with a happy smile.

Mary and her nanny put their baskets down near where William and the fairy stood and, after returning the greeting, started handing out the bread. Mary had on a cloak of berry red; she pushed her hood back, and her red hair shone golden in the sunlight.

William and the fairy heard an old woman mutter, passing by after receiving some bread, "She is the spitting image of her father, yet is so much more like her mother."

The fairy looked at William. "Your daughter seems much loved by your subjects."

William nodded. As she gave bread to a woman, Mary said suddenly, "Leah, I forgot to thank you for giving me those beautiful colors of yarn!"

Leah smiled and curtsied. "I am honored that the yarn pleased you, Your Highness. Have you used any of it yet?"

Mary nodded. "I used the yarn the color of royal red and knitted a scarf for Father. Red is his favorite color."

"Was he pleased with the gift?"

Mary sighed and shook her pretty little head. "No, he was not pleased. Come, I will tell you what happened." The villagers gathered around.

"I rose up early in the morning to quickly finish knitting the scarf. Father was in the throne room, receiving gifts from his friends, though I do believe that none of them are really friendly to him. Well, nanny helped me into my new dress, and I ran down to the throne room and impatiently waited to be presented. When I entered the throne room, Father was sitting on his throne and all the lords, dukes, barons, counts, and all his court were there. I approached him and curtsied.

"'Good morning, daughter,' he said in his gruff voice.

"'Good morning, Father. Merry Christmas!' I said.

"'What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?' he growled.

 "'I have a present for you, Father,' I said.

"His eyes gleamed like diamonds, and he rubbed his hands together and said, 'What is it?'

"I stepped forward and brought the royal red scarf from behind my back and handed it to him. For a long time there was silence as he fingered it and examined it. Then, turning his eyes on me, he asked, 'Why is it red?'

"I answered, 'Because red is your favorite color, Father.'

"Then he rose and said in an angry voice, 'Why couldn't you have made it silver or gold!' Look! Look around me and see what I have received.' And then he pointed out to me all the wonderful things his friends had given him: the silver mechanical nightingale, the golden apples that were as sweet as honey, the gold and silver swans, and all the wonderful rich gifts that he had received.

"And when he finished showing me all these he said, 'How can you bring such a worthless gift into my presence? It is not sweet like my golden apples. It is not beautiful like my silver and golden swans. The only thing it is good for is for some wretch who needs it to help keep warm.'

"And then he took the scarf and ripped it to pieces. It took all my self-control to curtsy and apologize, to keep my head high and remain emotionless." The tale being finished, Mary wrapped her arms around her nanny and burst into uncontrollable sobs, and all the villagers felt pity for the child.

"We're awfully sorry for you, princess," an old man said. "But the king has desired only silver and gold for the last fifteen years and cares about nothing else --and probably never will. His heart is cold and no longer feels any warmth or love."

The princess turned her moist eyes toward him and said, "It is true, old father, that the king my father has no care for ruling his kingdom, only for his gold and treasure. But I love him with all my heart, though I live like one without a mother and father. And when he passes away, I shall probably be the only one to mourn his death. For his friends will be relieved that they no longer have to spend money on him." Then she buried her head in her nanny's arms again and continued to weep.

"Ah!" the people whispered among themselves. "She's just like her mother at heart. Always loving. And she makes the best of Christmas with her nanny, even without her father."

"Ah!" said the fairy to William. "She may be like her mother but is like her father in one way. For she hides her emotions from the court but then lets it out, while you try to run away from the emotion all together."

William was amazed by the conversations that had taken place. It was the first time that he had seen Mary cry, for he never saw her much when he was in the treasury. He was not sure what to make of all this.

Soon Mary dried her tears, apologized for forgetting why she had come, and resumed giving out the bread. After all the bread was gone, Mary joined the other children in singing songs and accepted the hair ribbons a seamstress gave her.

The fairy led William through the village, and they watched as the villagers celebrated the holiday. They peeked in windows and watched families singing and laughing and others sitting around the fireplace telling stories. Fathers held their little girls on their laps as they gazed deep into flames of the fires. Families sat down to a Christmas dinner of a small goose with cranberry sauce and fruit. -- a small feast, yet like a great banquet to the people who ate the simple meal.

The fairy next led the king to a castle a little way from the village. They walked right through the walls and found themselves in a large room where a great party was going on, Gentlemen and ladies in their fanciest suits and dresses chatted around tables laden with the richest foods one could imagine. Servants walked around offering drinks.

The couple that appeared to be the host and hostess was more handsomely dressed than any of the other guests. The man wore a green suit trimmed with silver, and his brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. The lady wore a dress of gold and silver covered with diamonds. On her head was a wig with pearls and rubies.

The fairy turned to William. "Do you know who that couple is?"

"It's Count Duncan and his wife, Maria. He's a friend of mine," William answered.

They watched as the couples dined on the rich food and exchanged handsome gifts. When they were all sitting around after the feast, a gentleman commented, "Duncan, I do hope that William hasn't been robbing you so much that you cannot provide for your family." A ripple of laughter filled the room.

"Well, my friend," Duncan answered, "I wouldn't say that he is 'robbing' me, as you put it. But to stay in his favor is making me pay more than I would care for." This was greeted with a number of others agreeing with the count.

"I dare say," said one man, "that the day we may cease spending gold piece after gold piece on the king will be a joyful celebration!"

"Hear, hear!" was echoed around the room.

"Now," Duncan said to his guests, "let us be merry while we can in our own houses than in the royal palace!" This was agreed upon, and the musicians started their playing again as laughter filled the room.

William hardly paid attention to the scene before him as he pondered his friend's words. "Fairy godmother," he said, "I believe I now know the lesson that in all this I was to learn. I tell you that I will take it to heart and live it out before the day is over."

"That is good, my godson," the fairy answered. "Now we must hurry; the day is nearly gone."