Once upon a time there was a young, misbehaving princess who was taken away from her royal parents by magic. Actually, she was taken by a person of magic: The Wise Woman. Through a wild set of circumstances, Rosamond (the young misbehaving princess) found herself in a meager, common home in a faraway country side, with a shepherd and a shepherdess. This was The Wise Woman’s doing. You see, she was wise, and new exactly what young Rosamond needed to cure her mal-nourished character of spite and spoiled-rotten-ness.
The day that Rosamond arrived in the home of the shepherd she acted out something fierce. When asked to do some basic household chores, she stormed out of the house screaming like the spoiled child she was. The shepherdess calmly spoke to an unusual dog named Prince to go and fetch this wretched child. Prince bounded after the former princess and drug her back against her will. Surprised, unsure of herself, and quite a little afraid of Prince, Rosamond proceeded to obey the shepherdess’ instructions and requests. It was amazing though, Rosamond and Prince got along splendidly after this first unfortunate encounter. They became fast, best friends.
Later on that day, Rosamond began to return to her old rotten self, and when she had a moment alone when she was out in the field, took it upon herself to runaway from this wretched family.
“But she had not gone more than a dozen paces, when she heard a growling rush behind her, and the next instant was on the ground, with the dog standing over her, showing his teeth, and flaming at her with his eyes. She threw her arms around his neck, and immediately he licked her face, and let her get up. But the moment she would have moved a step further from the cottage, there he was in front of her, growling, and showing his teeth. She saw it was of no use, and went back with him.
“Thus was the princess provided with a dog for a private tutor—just the right sort for her.
“Presently the shepherdess appeared at the door and called her. She would have disregarded the summons, but Prince did his best to let her know that, until she could obey herself, she must obey him.”
And so it was
“that so long as she neither lost her temper, nor went against orders, she might do almost anything she pleased with him.”
…with Prince.
Quotes taken from “The Wise Woman and Other Stories” by George Macdonald
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