Then the prince confessed that the image of Wildrose filled his soul , and that he would never be happy without her . At first the emperor felt rather distressed . He doubted whether a girl from a tree top would make a good empress ; but he loved his son so much that he promised to do all he could to find her . So the next morning heralds were sent forth throughout the whole land to inquire if anyone knew where a maiden could be found who lived in a forest on the top of a tree , and to promise great riches and a place at court to any person who should find her . But nobody knew . All the girls in the kingdom had their homes on the ground , and laughed at the notion of being brought up in a tree . ' A nice kind of empress she would make , ' they said , as the emperor had done , tossing their heads with disdain ; for , having read many books , they guessed what she was wanted for . The heralds were almost in despair , when an old woman stepped out of the crowd and came and spoke to them . She was not only very old , but she was very ugly , with a hump on her back and a bald head , and when the heralds saw her they broke into rude laughter . ' I can show you the maiden who lives in the tree-top , ' she said , but they only laughed the more loudly . ` Get away , old witch ! ' they cried , ` you will bring us bad luck ' ; but the old woman stood firm , and declared that she alone knew where to find the maiden . ` Go with her , ' said the eldest of the heralds at last . ` The emperor 's orders are clear , that whoever knew anything of the maiden was to come at once to court . Put her in the coach and take her with us . ' So in this fashion the old woman was brought to court . ` You have declared that you can bring hither the maiden from the wood ? ' said the emperor , who was seated on his throne . ` Yes , your Majesty , and I will keep my word , ' said she . ` Then bring her at once , ' said the emperor .
` Give me XXXXX a kettle and a tripod , ' asked the old w omen , and the emperor ordered them to be brought instantly .
Wildrose back coach court empress fashion first girl heralds prince