THE MAGIC FISHBONE - an illustrated children's story by Charles Dickens

Book excerpt: There was once a King, and he had a Queen; and he was the manliest of his sex, and she was the loveliest of hers. The King was, in his private profession, Under Government. The Queen’s father had been a medical man out of town. They had nineteen children, and were always having more. Seventeen of these children took care of the baby; and Alicia, the eldest, took care of them all. Their ages varied from seven years to seven months. One day the King was going to the office, when he stopped at the fishmonger’s to buy a pound and a half of salmon not too near the tail, which the Queen had requested him to send home. Mr Pickles, the fishmonger, said, “Certainly, sir, is there any other article, Good-morning.” But what of the old lady in the shop? The King hadn’t noticed her and she is VERY important to this story for she is the Good Fairy Grandmarina. But just how important you ask? Well, you’ll just have to download and read this story and find out for yourselves! TAGS: Magic Fishbone, King Watkins, Princess Alicia, 19 children, nineteen children, fishmonger, Good Fairy Grandmarina, blue fairy, Duchess the doll, secret, princes, princesses, baby, 18 cooks, dance, despondency, dressed in splendour, exquisite, happily ever after, Charles Dickens, Fairy tale, folklore, children’s story, children’s stories