The Green Snake
by Margaret Mitchell, age 12
Once in a far off country there lived a prince named Wendell. He was very much in love with the Princess Lowdie, the daughter of the King of Noland, and she returned his love.
In Prince Wendel's father's court there was a court lady by the name of Lady Garda of Mugwump. She loved Wendell, but he did not love her at all. This angered her greatly and she was determined to have her revenge.
On a high mountain, a good way from the city, lived an old witch. The Lady Garda decided to visit her.
It was a long journey, but the revenge in her heart made Garda strong! At last she arrived at the witch's cave.
The ugly witch was stirring a pot of simmering bull frogs and crooning to herself when the lady arrived. "What do you want?" she mumbled.
Garda told her her story and finished by begging the witch to give her something that would make Wendell love her and would make Princess Lowdie hate him.
The witch promised and went into her cave. Soon she returned with two bottles. "This!" she said, as she laid one bottle in Garda's hand, "is the love potion, and this," she gave her another bottle, "is the hate potion. Take care and do not mix them!"
Garda thanked her and started home, but the witch stopped her. "You haven't paid me yet," she said.
Garda threw her a diamond necklace.
The old woman laughed contemptuously, "I don't want your necklace," she said, "I only want a promise."
Garda stopped. "What shall I promise?" she questioned, curiously.
"Only this," said the witch, "that if you do not succeed, I can change you into a charming green snake."
The lady shuddered, but she thought, "my plans will not fail," and she said aloud, "I promise."
The sorceress laughed in a hollow tone. "Begone," she said.
Garda hastened home. When she arrived at the palace, all the other ladies told her that Prince Wendell was to marry Princess Lowdie the next day.
Garda clenched her teeth. "I'll not be foiled," she cried. She took a bottle of wine and three glasses and went to the room where the lovers were. This opened into a beautiful garden. Wendell and Lowdie were sitting on the steps.
Garda hastily poured out three glasses of wine. Then she poured in one glass the powder of hate, and in the other two, the powder of love. She bowed to the two and said, "I humbly ask the favor of being allowed to drink to your health."
"Certainly, fair lady," smiled Wendell, "and we will drink with you."
This was exactly what Garda wanted and she handed a glass to each, but in her excitement, she mixed the glasses and by mistake took the hate powder herself! She did not discover her mistake and raised her glass to her lips. "To your health!" she cried, joyfully, and took a large drink.
Wendell and Lowdie drank, also, and immediately loved each other more than ever. As for Garda, the last seen of her was a long, green snake that crawled into the bushes with a soft hiss.