In a whimsical kingdom, the annual Bee Festival celebrates the arrival of bees, which are cherished for their stingless nature and the honey they produce. The court, adorned in green and floral attire, revels in games and festivities, with the beloved Princess Rosetta, dressed in a gown of flowers, being carried in a basket by her nurses. However, upon returning to the palace, the nurses discover that the Princess has mysteriously vanished from her basket, leading to widespread panic and a frantic search throughout the kingdom. Despite extensive efforts, including a search of every household and unlikely places, the Princess remains missing for six months, causing deep sorrow for the King and Queen. The nurses, blamed for the loss, are forced to wear their bonnets backward as a constant reminder of their failure. In desperation, the Head-nurse seeks the help of a Baron known for his knowledge of white magic, but he is unable to assist due to the destruction of his magical tools. During her visit, a Pop-corn man arrives, selling his wares. After hearing the story of the missing Princess, he suggests that only a necromancer could have made her disappear. The Head-nurse theorizes that the King across the river, the only known enemy of their King, may be responsible for the abduction. The Pop-corn man proposes a plan to rescue the Princess, enlisting six boys to accompany him across the river. Once in the enemy kingdom, the Pop-corn man sells his pop-corn, which captivates the King. The King orders the entire kingdom to adopt pop-corn as their staple food, leading to a situation where the citizens are too busy popping corn to effectively defend against an impending siege from Romalia. The Pop-corn man informs the King of Romalia that he has found his daughter, prompting the King to prepare for war. As the siege begins, the enemy's forces weaken due to their inability to sustain themselves on pop-corn. Eventually, the city surrenders, and Princess Rosetta is returned to her parents, leading to a grand celebration in Romalia. The Head-nurse is married, and the Pop-corn man declines any grand reward, asking only for honey-comb to take home. The story concludes with the kingdoms reconciling, as the new King across the river is kind and generous. Rosetta eventually marries him, and both kingdoms enjoy the fruits of their bees, celebrating their shared heritage at the Bee Festival.
By Mary E. Wilkins · First published 1904 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fairy Tale