Mike Egan and the Princess

transcribed at

Mike Egan and the Princess  [duchas:4669859]

Mike Egan was an only son and as happens in such cases he was petted and pampered. When Mike grew up he took interest in his father's farm and very seldom worked on the farm. One day his father told him to keep the cattle out of the oats. Mike as usual forgot to obey his father's order. The cattle went into the oats and trampled down most of it. When Mike came home his father told him he would pack up and take the road the next morning. Mike packed up and set off next morning. When [night] came he lay down in a flower-garden and fell asleep there. During the night he heard the flowers talking to one another. they spoke of their good points and also of their bad points. Mike heard all this and remembered it [?] dreaming it would be of use to him again. In the morning he set off again and came to a big city. Outside a big mansion he saw several men standing in a queue. He asked one of them what they were waiting for. He was told that a certain Princess lived in the mansion and she would marry no one but the man who could please her. Mike was in no hurry out of the city and said he would join in the competition. The Princess interviewed each man seperately. So far no one had succeeded. While Mike was waiting for his turn to please the Princess he asked one of the many competitors what was the Princess's  hobby. 'Flowers and games' said the other competitor. Mike now was more confident as he was good at games and only the night before had heard what the flowers said. When his turn had come he saw lying on the steps of the mansion a rose that had been trampled on. Mike picked it up, dusted it and put it in the

Mike Egan and the Princess  [duchas:4669861]

buttonhole of his coat. While he was doing this the Princess was watching him from a window overhead. When Mike came into the presence of the Princess he told her what he heard the flowers saying. Without waiting to hear anything about games she put her arms round Mike and kissed him. She said he was the man she was looking for. Soon afterwards Mike and the Princess were married and they lived happily ever after.