desolate palace, for he knew that no woman in all the court was worthy to be compared with the princess. Hereafter whenever a celebrated beauty was presented at court she seemed, to the Mikado, not worth looking at, as he remembered that glorious face which he had seen but once. He spent his years alone, his only pleasure was sending to the princess letters or poems fastened to rare plants and receiving her replies. In this way the Mikado spent three happy years.		THE HEAVENLY FEATHER DRESS.  As time passed on, at the return of each full-moon the princess seemed sad and depressed and would steal away by herself upon the balcony and weeping gaze at the moon.  Taketori being told of this went to her room and said, “Ah! my dear little fairy! what is it that troubles you so in this bright and beautiful world? Do not look at the moon if it makes you sad.” So the princess tried hard to hide her sorrow, but when mid-summer came she could no longer conceal her grief but wept day and night. Her parents insisting upon
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